With much attention recently focused on COVID-19, it is important to remember there are other pediatric illnesses that remain prevalent in children. Asthma is at the top of this list, with 8 percent of children under the age of 17 having a diagnosis of asthma in Florida in 2019. Here is what parents should know about asthma in children.
How common is asthma in children?
Asthma is the number one chronic illness in children in the U.S., and the third leading cause of hospitalization of children under 15 years of age. Hospitals report over half a million emergency department visits for children with asthma every year in the U.S.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. In an individual, they may occur from hour to hour and day to day. Asthma is often found in individuals who are noted to have various types of allergic conditions, including seasonal/environmental allergies and atopic dermatitis.
Bronchospasm occurs due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs and affects the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the airways, so they become easily irritated. In an asthma attack, the lining of the passages swell, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs.
What causes asthma?
Asthma is often familial. It can be triggered by viral respiratory infections, weather changes, seasonal and environmental allergies, and even stress. Asthma attacks all age groups but often starts in childhood.
Can you outgrow asthma?
About half of all kids diagnosed with asthma under 5 years of age will have their symptoms disappear over time, but half of those will get asthma again during adulthood. True remission occurs only in about 25 percent of people. Many children who appear to have “grown out” of their asthma may never have had asthma at all.
Is Reactive Airways Disease the same as asthma?
Reactive airway disease (RAD) is a term often used to describe a child who has asthma-like symptoms but has not been officially diagnosed with asthma. It is hard to make an official diagnosis in children under 5 years of age because testing for bronchospasm requires the cooperation of the child.
When my child wheezes, she gets treated for bronchitis. Is that the same as asthma?
Bronchitis simply means inflammation in the airways that causes coughing, sometimes for long periods of time. The inflammation can cause wheezing as well. Most often, this is due to one or more viral infections. Coughing from some viral infections can last for weeks. Bacterial bronchitis in children is relatively uncommon, especially in children with coughing for less than a month. There is usually no need to treat a child with a short-term cough/wheezing with antibiotics. Medications used for asthma may be tried for bronchitis but should not be continued if they do not help.
If my child wheezes, does it mean he has asthma?
Not necessarily – bronchospasm can be caused by multiple types of viral respiratory infections, including croup, various types of pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Wheezing can also be caused by moderate to severe allergic reactions. The diagnosis of asthma is one made primarily based on repeated episodes of bronchospasm over time. The diagnosis of asthma generally cannot be made based on one episode of wheezing.
What are the most common symptoms of asthma?
A child with asthma may experience one or more of the following symptoms.
When should I worry about potential danger signs?
Seek immediate medicine attention if your child exhibits any of these symptoms.
How is asthma treated?
Prevention methods include:
For acute asthma attacks:
Parents should remain cognizant of recognizing your child’s asthma related symptoms and begin treatment as soon as possible. The longer the symptoms go without good treatment, the harder they can be to treat.
Lou Romig, MD, FAAP, FACEP, Medical Director
After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care
From my initial phone calling asking questions before I showed up.. to the excellent service by every person working .. I could not express how grateful I am to have found this place. I have told all my friends with kids about this place and have saved this contact in my phone in case needed in the future. Exceptional cleanliness, most friendly staff. Totally made my 2.5 old feel comfortable in a doctor office setting which is usually scary. Thank you!
– Jackie at After Hours Pediatrics, Lake Worth
