Asthma Attack in Children

Asthma is a serious chronic respiratory disorder affecting both children and adults. It is known to be more common in children and almost 9 million children in the United States alone suffer from asthma. A number of factors contribute to children being more prone to developing this disorder, most commonly at the age of 5 and some even at a younger age. Asthma in children can be quite a discomfort and it is essential that parents know how to prevent the same in children. The symptoms of asthma in children may be a bit more severe than in adults and emergency medical treatment may be required to get these under control. Here are the causes, symptoms and treatment options of asthma attack in children.

Causes
The causes of asthma attacks in children are similar to the causes of asthma attacks in adults. Asthma attacks are a result of or triggered by an exposure to allergens like smoke, pollution, dust and pollens, a change in weather conditions, respiratory infections and emotional disturbance. Mostly, allergens is what triggers the attack. Children are more prone to developing chronic asthma due to their underdeveloped respiratory system and small airways. They can develop asthma in case of allergies being present or a family history of asthma and boys are more prone to being asthmatic than girls.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms include severe wheezing when breathing in or breathing out, troubled or rapid breathing, chest tightness and coughing. These symptoms tend to worsen during the night and breathing may get increasingly difficult. Asthma in children often goes undiagnosed as these symptoms are considered to be associated with other respiratory disorders as well. Medical assistance may be required if the breathing condition of the child does not improve and signs like the lips and nails turning blue are noticed. In children below the age of 5, the most common symptom of asthma is an upper respiratory infection like a common cold. If asthma in children goes untreated for a while, it may get severe and cause many problems for the child during his or her adulthood. In most children, asthma attacks lessen in frequency or can even disappear completely during their teenage, but returns after that and could be difficult to treat at this point.

Treatment
Treatment can be administered in a number of ways. The most common asthma treatment option is the use of inhalers for asthma that help broaden the airways and breathe easily, thus reducing the symptoms. In case of a severe asthma attack, the child should be put on a nebulizer until he or she finds it easy to breathe. Corticosteroids may also be helpful in relieving symptoms during an attack. Drugs like theophylline and aminophylline, Beta 2 agonists and anticholinergics are safe and can be administered to asthmatic children.

Tips for Prevention
If you are aware of the fact that your child is asthmatic and wondering how to deal with asthma attacks, you should take the following preventive measures to avoid triggering an asthma attack in your child.

• Determine what triggers an attack in your child and take adequate steps to prevent the child from being exposed to these triggers.
• Take immediate action and administer medication as soon as you notice any of the symptoms.
• Treat respiratory infection and minor colds and cough immediately so that an asthma attack can be prevented.
• Educate the child about the allergens and irritants that can trigger an asthma attack in him or her.
• Keep your home, especially the child's bedroom and play area clean and dust free by vacuuming it on a daily basis.
• Monitor the child's lung function by using a peak flow meter. You can also determine if the child is at a risk of an asthma attack with the help of the readings of this device.

An asthma attack can also prove fatal if it is not treated on time or can have long-term consequences on the health of the child. Try to prevent these attacks as much as possible with the help of medication and regular monitoring.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical expert.