Ah spring! Time to get outside and take some deep breaths. However, for families with children suffering from asthma, it is a reminder to keep triggers in check and be prepared to treat flare ups at a moment’s notice. May is Asthma Awareness Month and for millions of families it is a reminder of the importance of helping their child manage their life-long condition.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that there are about 4.5 million U.S. children living with asthma. Although childhood asthma isn’t different from adult asthma, there are additional challenges to controlling asthma in children. Missing days of school, avoiding triggers, managing medication, and adhering to action plans are uniquely difficult issues related to managing childhood asthma. While the exact cause of asthma is unknown, the following risk factors may make a child more likely to have asthma:
- Family history of asthma
- Respiratory illnesses, such as flu, colds, RSV
- Allergies and eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- A mother who smoked during pregnancy
- Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke after birth
- Living in an area with high air pollution
According to the American Lung Association, asthma attacks or “flare ups” are caused by swelling of the airway, extra mucus production, and tightening of the muscles around the airways. These symptoms make it more difficult for air to move through the lungs. This “What is Asthma” video helps explain the condition: https://youtu.be/batzSytA1Y0
Doctors use a variety of methods to diagnose asthma in children. Allergy testing, blood tests, and X-rays, are a few of the tests doctors use to develop treatment plans. Depending on the type and severity of your child’s asthma, they may recommend seeing an allergist or pulmonologist which are doctors who specialize in the respiratory system.
If your child is diagnosed with asthma, it is important to know the triggers and symptoms of an attack. Managing triggers is important because after an asthma episode, children are at greater risk for experiencing additional flare ups. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital shares the following Common Triggers of Asthma Attacks.
- Tobacco Smoke
- House Dust Mites
- Indoor and Outdoor Pollens and Molds
- Pets
- Cockroaches
- Strong Odors and Sprays
- Exercise, Sports, Work and Play
The Mayo Clinic suggests seeing a doctor if your child displays the following symptoms:
- Coughing that is constant, is intermittent or seems linked to physical activity
- Wheezing or whistling sounds when your child breathes out
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Complaints of chest tightness
- Repeated episodes of suspected bronchitis or pneumonia
Asthma management in developing young children is especially important because according to the American Lung Association, if left untreated, it can lead to airway remodeling, a condition in which the lungs become scarred, asthma medicines do not work as well, and less air is able to move through the airways.
Living with a child who has asthma can be stressful but understanding triggers, warning signs, and having a plan in place can help families feel prepared to manage their child’s condition.
Families can access the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American’s Asthma Action Plan here to share with family, friends, schools, and other caregivers.
Author: Heather Reister, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Butler County.
Reviewer: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Warren County.
Sources:
Asthma in children. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. (2024, January 30). https://aafa.org/asthma/living-with-asthma/asthma-in-children/
Asthma: Reducing Triggers in Your Home. Cincinnati Childrens. (2022). https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/a/asthma-triggers-home
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, April 5). Childhood asthma. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351507
Tips to help control your child’s allergic asthma. YouTube. (2024, January 8). https://youtu.be/9R9JVaR3CsE
What is asthma? American Lung Association. (n.d.). https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/what-is-asthma
To control asthma, some people are prescribed drugs, including Singulair/Montelukast (generic). This drug has a black-box warning from the FDA and is known to have severe side effects, including mental health side effects. Please talk to your docotr or pharmacist if you have been prescribed this drug to discuss whether the benefits outweigh the risks. To learn more, visit: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requires-boxed-warning-about-serious-mental-health-side-effects-asthma-and-allergy-drug