What is Asthma?  

Another common condition many children experience is asthma. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects the airways in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Asthma in children can be a serious condition that requires close monitoring and management. 

Need help managing your child’s asthma? Book an appointment online or call us to seek care from our board certified pediatricians.

What is the cause?

Asthma can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Children who have a family history of asthma, allergies, or eczema are more likely to develop asthma themselves. Exposure to environmental allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold, can also trigger asthma symptoms. Other triggers can include viral infections, exercise, and exposure to irritants such as smoke, pollution, and chemical fumes.

In fact, children who are around tobacco or marijuana smoke may be more likely to have allergies and asthma, which coexists in people 78% of the time. Breathing secondhand smoke, also called passive smoking, is harmful to children’s lungs. Those who breathe secondhand smoke often have symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and a tight feeling in their chest.

Children with asthma who live in a household with people who smoke have more breathing problems, need to take more medicines, and have more emergency room visits than children who live in smoke-free homes. Unfortunately, children who live in a household with people who smoke are also less likely to outgrow their asthma. In the U.S. asthma is responsible for nearly 1.8 million emergency room visits and 439,000 hospitalizations each year. 

What are the symptoms of asthma? 

The symptoms of asthma can vary from child to child, but some common symptoms include: 

  • Wheezing: a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing 
  • Shortness of breath: feeling like there is not enough air 
  • Coughing: especially at night or early in the morning 
  • Chest tightness: a feeling of pressure or squeezing in the chest

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms its important to seek medical care. Book an appointment online or call us to seek care from our board certified pediatricians.

How is asthma treated? 

There are several treatments available to manage asthma symptoms and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.

These can include: 

  • Inhaled corticosteroids: these are the most common treatment for asthma and work by reducing inflammation in the airways. 
  • Short-acting bronchodilators: these are fast-acting medications that can quickly relieve asthma symptoms. 
  • Long-acting bronchodilators: these medications are used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids to help control asthma symptoms. 
  • Immunotherapy: this treatment involves exposing a child to small amounts of an allergen over time to desensitize the immune system to that allergen. 

Overall, allergies and asthma are both treatable conditions, with a range of medications and lifestyle changes available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

It is important for parents and caregivers to work closely with their child’s healthcare provider to develop an individualized asthma management plan that considers their child’s unique symptoms, triggers, and treatment needs.

At Adelante Healthcare, we are dedicated to treating your children as if they were our own. We will take the time to listen to your concerns and come up with a solution for your child’s unique condition that works best for them.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss possible allergies or asthma symptoms in your child, please schedule an appointment online or call us.

Book a Pediatric appointment 480-964-2273