Asthma
Asthma Basics:
- Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the tubes that carry air to the lungs.
- Symptoms include wheezing, coughing (especially overnight), chest tightness, or shortness of breath, and they can change in severity over time or from child to child.
- Some children only have asthma symptoms when they have a respiratory infection like a cold; others only have symptoms during exercise, or when they are exposed to triggers like dust, smoke, cockroaches, mold, animals, or pollen.
- Other children have symptoms more regularly, or may have such significant symptoms that they require treatment with steroids or hospitalization.
- A child who has asthma symptoms more than twice a week or needs multiple courses of steroid treatments in a year may require a daily breathing treatment to help prevent asthma attacks.
- There is no cure for asthma, but there are ways to prevent and treat symptoms
Prevention:
- Avoid triggers like tobacco or pollutants
- Control exposure to allergens if needed (ie, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, allergy-proof covers on bedding and frequent washing, limiting outdoor exposure in peak pollen season, vacuum carpets regularly)
- If your child’s symptoms occur with exercise, your medical team may recommend using albuterol (a quick relief medication) 20-30 minutes before exercise
- Help your child learn to manage stress and anxiety
Treatment Medications:
- “Rescue” or quick-relief medications, like albuterol nebulizers or inhalers, provide rapid relief of symptoms
- Usually, albuterol can be used every 4 hours (children needing it more frequently should go to the ER). Albuterol should be used for any symptoms, not just during an asthma “attack”
- “Controller” medications, like Pulmicort nebulizers or Flovent or Symbicort inhalers, are usually used to prevent symptoms from happening in children with more persistent symptoms. These may be used once to twice a day even when the child is well; in younger children sometimes these types of medicines are only used when the child is sick for a week or so
- If your child’s asthma symptoms are related to allergens like pollen or animals, they may also benefit from antihistamines like Zyrtec or Allegra
When To Seek Care:
- If and when you are instructed by your provider. Some children will need to be seen to check symptoms and/or receive another dose of medication after an asthma visit. Other children will need to be followed regularly by their Pediatrician for long-term treatment.
- If your child has increased work of breathing: breathing harder, breathing faster, or having difficulty catching their breath.
- If symptoms are worsening or albuterol doesn’t seem to last the full 4 hours
- If symptoms last more than 2-3 days.
- If you are concerned
When To Go To The Emergency Room:
- If your child is in respiratory distress (nostrils flaring, ribs showing, significant belly breathing, head bobbing, grunting, or very fast breathing)
- If your child is needing albuterol every 2 to 3 hours or more
- If your child is lethargic or difficult to arouse
- If your child is showing signs of severe dehydration: lethargy, little/no urine output, dry lips, sunken fontanelle (soft spot)
- If you are worried
Additional Resources:
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