Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects the airways. It happens when the latter become inflamed and narrowed, causing wheezing, coughing, or chest tightness. It is a common condition in childhood because it usually begins in childhood, generally before the age of five.
According to the MedlinePlus portal of the United States National Library of Medicine, asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Although its cause is not exactly known, it is likely that genetics and environment are related to this pathology.
The asthma attack can be triggered by different reasons, either by exposure to allergens in the case of allergic asthma (such as dust, mites, pollen or pets); or by non-allergenic triggers, such as breathing cold air, chemicals, respiratory infections or tobacco smoke. On the other hand, there is also induced asthma, which occurs due to physical exercise.
In addition to these causes, there are certain risk factors for asthma in childhood. Children exposed to secondhand smoke – that is, when the mother is pregnant or when they are young – are more likely to suffer from asthma. The risk also increases due to genetics and family history, especially if the mother has asthma. Diseases such as obesity and allergies increase the risk of having asthma. As well as suffering from frequent viral respiratory infections in childhood.
An asthma attack is considered when symptoms worsen considerably, either gradually or suddenly. Warning signs of a severe attack are a severe cough, severe breathing problems, and pale or bluish color to the face, lips, and nails. If your child presents any of these symptoms, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment of asthma in children aims to control symptoms and prevent attacks. To do this, strategies are used to avoid triggers, such as not smoking around the child.
Quick-relief medications are also often prescribed, which help prevent and relieve symptoms during an asthma attack. Inhalers fall into this category, as do certain medications that act to open the airways. On the other hand, there are control medications, whose objective is to prevent symptoms on a daily basis. They reduce inflammation of the airways and prevent their narrowing.
