Recognize the signs of asthma in kids and help your little ones feel better by taking them to the doctor. Timely treatment can prevent complications.
Childhood asthma causes children to have difficulty playing or exercising, precisely because of the difficulty in breathing.
Childhood asthma is a very common pathology at this stage of life. In fact, it is the most frequent chronic disease in childhood. The estimates are that it affects between 5 and 15% of the child population and its incidence is increasing gradually.
Asthma is a disease that is characterized by inflammation of the airways. This implies a difficulty when breathing, in addition to cough, choking sensation and abnormal noises when inspiring or exhaling.
Often, asthma is associated with allergies. This is one of the reasons why it is thought that more and more children are affected. For example, it is very common for an asthmatic child to be allergic to pollen or mites.
In this article we explain what are the most frequent causes and the first signs of asthma in kids. In the same way, we will explain how doctors diagnose, since it is very important to distinguish it from other pathologies to establish an adequate treatment.
What is childhood asthma?
Childhood asthma is that the child’s airways become inflamed. This causes the air to find more resistance when entering and leaving the lungs. It is a disease that appears in the form of a crisis.
Most children with childhood asthma experience the first crisis before their fourth birthday. What happens is that, although there is an inflammation of the pathways that remains at baseline, in these crises it worsens and the symptoms get worse.
It should be noted that more than half of asthmatics are allergic to any substance, such as pollen or mites. This condition is what triggers a large part of asthmatic crises.
Signs of asthma in kids
This pathology usually manifests with difficulty breathing and a feeling of chest congestion. Children who suffer from it usually cough frequently. The cough gets much worse from any infection, cold or stress.
In addition, it is very easy to hear noises during breathing, wheezing. They are sounds that resemble a whistle when the child inspires or releases the air. However, it is important to know that each one is different and that the symptoms vary according to the case.
On the other hand, due to the association with allergies, you can distinguish two key stages in cases of childhood asthma:
The first delicate time for these children is the beginning of autumn and the school year, due to temperature changes.
The second moment where there is more childhood asthma crisis is spring. It is due, above all, to the increase in pollen in the environment, as it is one of the most important allergens for the entire population.
What are the complications of childhood asthma?
Although most children only suffer from the symptoms we have already mentioned, some of them may experience complications. Most often, childhood asthma is associated with sleep problems, due to difficulty breathing.
On the other hand, any respiratory infection usually takes longer to heal. In addition, asthmatic children tend to be more tired and may have trouble playing or exercising.
Diagnosis
Childhood asthma is difficult to diagnose, especially in children under 5 years. This is because there are other pathologies that have similar symptoms or that are in relation with asthma itself. For example, rhinitis, bronchiolitis or sinusitis.
There are some tests that can help the doctor make the diagnosis. First, we find spirometry, which allows you to evaluate lung function. If this test is inconclusive, exhaled nitric oxide analysis can be used.
In conclusion
Childhood asthma is a very prevalent disease that has multiple causes and risk factors. Genetics play an important role, but so do stress, cold, allergies, and so on.
It is difficult to diagnose it because it shares symptoms with other diseases. Therefore, the most important thing is to explain the symptoms to the doctor and perform the necessary tests. Thus, proper treatment can prevent harms of the kid’s childhood.
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