Some Things That Parents Should Know About Asthma

Posted on: 28 April 2017

Having a child with asthma can be very stressful. There are many parents who wonder what they can do to keep their child safe, especially if the asthma is severe. Here are some things that you should know about asthma.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Asthma?

Asthma can be hard to detect in young children. Usually the first thing you should look for is a cough that becomes unbearable for the child. The child may be playing outside and then come in coughing and they seem to be unable to catch their breath. They might even vomit because they are coughing so hard. If the child is not sick with an illness that causes coughing, and if this happens frequently, they could have asthma.

Another thing that you might notice is that the child's chest looks labored when they are breathing. Their chest might even look like it is caving in when they are taking deep breaths, like when they are sleeping. Lastly, if the child may act as though it hurts to breathe. If they can't seem to comfortably breathe, especially after strenuous activities, it could easily be asthma.

Can A Doctor Detect Asthma?

Yes, your doctor, even your family doctor, can help to determine if your child has asthma. If the asthma is very apparent or serious, you might be referred to a specialist in allergy treatments. Mild asthma can generally be diagnosed with your family doctor, but a specialist may need to see a child with more serious asthma to make sure that they are safe, have the proper medications, and rule out any other possible problems.

What Is The Treatment For Asthma?

Most children who have asthma just use an inhaler when the symptoms present themselves. They should carry the inhaler with them at all times, and if the child is young, the teachers or caregivers of the child should always have an inhaler present.

Many children also have treatments that they do in the evening before they go to bed. Through a machine called a nebulizer they can get a steroid that helps to relax the lungs so that they can breathe better. Many times the child will do the nebulizer every night so that they prevent asthma attacks. This will be given at the direction of your doctor.

By understanding asthma and what you can do to protect your child from serious effects of asthma. For more information, contact a business such as Cookingham Allergy & Asthma Associates, P.C.  

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