Learning that your child has asthma can be upsetting and lead to a lot of questions. How will they manage it in their daily lives? Will they be able to play sports? What should you do to help them during an asthma attack?
Asthma affects about seven million children in the U.S. It’s a chronic condition that causes the airways to become inflamed, usually due to triggers that vary from person to person. If asthma symptoms aren’t promptly treated, it can lead to an asthma attack.
But kids who have asthma can lead normal, active lives with the right management strategies.
Signs, Symptoms, and Triggers
Conditions like bronchitis and respiratory viruses can mimic asthma symptoms, making it difficult for parents to determine what their child is suffering from.
“It’s not always easy to tell if your child has asthma,” says Mili Shum, MD, an allergist and immunologist at University of Utah Health. “But if there is difficulty breathing or wheezing when coughing, or the coughing is triggered by running around, then that points toward asthma.”
If your child frequently has the following symptoms, make an appointment with their doctor to raise your concerns that they may have asthma:
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent chest congestion or tightness
- Wheezing or a high-pitched whistling when exhaling
- A lingering cough that gets worse with exercise, when they’re sick, or during sleep
- Trouble breathing, especially during physical activity
- Frequently developing bronchitis after a viral respiratory illness
Your child may not have all these symptoms; they may even only have one or two. Your doctor will likely ask about any family history with asthma or breathing problems, and if your child’s symptoms worsen with the following triggers:
- Exposure to allergens like pet dander, pollen, dust, or mold
- Exposure to polluted air or smoke, including cigarette smoke
- Strong smells, like perfumes or hairsprays
- Cold air
- Respiratory conditions, including the common cold, COVID-19, and sinus infections
- Physical activity
Managing Your Child’s Asthma
You can get your child’s asthma under control by taking medications, avoiding triggers, and treating symptoms as necessary. Be sure to follow all directions about taking medications in your child’s care plan. They may be given both quick-relief medications to help during an asthma attack and long-acting medications to keep the asthma under control over time.
- Quick-relief medications include albuterol inhalers, sometimes referred to as a “rescue inhaler.” These can be used during an asthma attack to open the airways. They can also be taken 15 to 20 minutes before physical activity to prevent asthma symptoms from flaring up in the first place.
- Long-acting medications keep asthma at bay over time. These include inhaled steroids and long-acting inhalers to keep the airways from narrowing and prevent swelling when exposed to environmental triggers. Allergy shots or a daily allergy pill may also be recommended to lessen your child’s response to irritants like pollen or dust.
Once you’ve identified what causes your child’s symptoms to worsen, avoid them as much as you can. Never smoke cigarettes around your child, and limit exposure to environmental triggers. If there are allergic triggers, speak to your doctor about treating those allergies.
Staying Active with Asthma
Children with asthma can still be physically active. Even Olympians, like Olympic runner Noah Lyles, have dealt with childhood asthma while simultaneously excelling at sports. Just be prepared with their quick-relief medications if you know they are going to participate in physical activity. The American Lung Association encourages kids who are at least 8 years old to carry their inhaler with them—and to know how to use it.
“If asthma is keeping a child from participating in sports and physical activity, then they should alert their physician because a lot of good and effective asthma therapies can help kids stay active,” Shum says.
When Asthma Becomes an Emergency
Asthma attacks can be severe and require emergency care. If not promptly treated, severe asthma attacks can even be fatal. If your child has any of the following symptoms, stay calm and seek emergency treatment immediately:
- Not getting relief from rescue inhalers
- Lips turning purple, blue, or gray
- Inability to speak without needing to stop for a breath
- Breathlessness even when lying down
- Chest pain or tightness
- The ribcage retracting when trying to breathe
As your child gets older, they may seem to “grow out” of their condition. However, asthma symptoms can return at a later age, so it’s important that they continue to avoid their triggers and have a plan in place in case they experience unexpected flare-ups.
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