Introduction:
Asthma is a lung disease causing inflammation, swelling and narrowing of the airways. It leads to difficulty in breathing and the production of mucus. In children, the disease is often more serious as children have narrower airways. Although asthma in children, also known as pediatric asthma, does not have a cure, treatment can help improve a children’s quality of life. If you are a resident of Lahore and your child has asthma, make sure to visit some of the best Pediatricians and Pulmonologists of the city at Hameed Latif Hospital Lahore.
Causes:
Although the exact causes of childhood Asthma are still unknown, a number of reasons are believed to contribute towards it. These include:
- A hereditary tendency to develop allergies
- Exposure to cigarette smoke or air pollution
- Airway infections at a young age
In addition, there exist a number of triggers of childhood asthma including:
- Viral infections such as the common cold
- Infections like sinusitis and pneumonia
- Exposure to air pollution, tobacco smoke, cold air, chemicals, or certain odors
- Allergies from things like dust, mites, pet dander, pollen, mold, cockroaches etc
- Physical activity and exercise
- Stress
- Weather changes
Factors leading to increased likelihood of childhood Asthma:
- Exposure to tobacco smoke, including before birth
- Previous allergic reactions, including skin reactions, food allergies, or hay fever
- A family history of asthma or allergies
- Living in an area with high pollution
- Being raised in a low-income environment
- Obesity
- Low birth weight
- Respiratory conditions, such as a rhinitis, sinusitis, or pneumonia
- Heartburn
- Being male
- Puerto Rican or African-American decent
Symptoms:
Symptoms of asthma vary among children and may also vary between one asthmatic attack to the next. Some common symptoms include the following:
- Frequent coughing that worsens with a viral infection,
- Cough during sleep, exercise, or when exposure to cold air
- A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing out
- Shortness of breath
- Chest congestion or tightness
- Delayed recovery or bronchitis after a respiratory infection
- Trouble breathing that hampers play or exercise
- Fatigue, which can be due to poor sleep
- Less energy while playing
- Trouble sleeping due to breathing difficulties, coughing, wheezing etc
- Tight neck and chest muscles
- Trouble eating
- Seesaw motion in the chest
Treatment:
While childhood asthma does not have a cure, medication, proper care, and avoiding triggers can help control it to a large degree. Limiting the child’s exposure to triggers can help avoid irritants. Physical activity can help with a healthy functioning of the lungs. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping heartburn under control via medication can help curb asthma as well. Long term medication for asthma involves the use of inhalers that the child might need to take every day.
Asthma among children is a common disease that greatly hampers normal life. However, proper guidance from a competent doctor at Childrens Hospital Lahore, can help improve the child’s quality of life and reduce the effects of asthma.
