Pediatric asthma is often more severe than adult asthma.
Asthma is a condition in which the airways in the lungs become inflamed and constricted, resulting in breathing complications. Pediatric asthma involves infants and children under the age of 18. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), pediatric asthma is the most severe of childhood diseases, which affects approximately five million American children. Pediatric asthma is not curable, but can be relieved through preventative and medical measures.
Identification
Asthma is can be inherited or triggered by various environmental factors such as pollutants. Severe allergies to dust, pollen, grasses, and weeds are often a genetic cause of asthma. According to Medline Plus, asthma attacks are directly linked to the triggers of asthma. Triggers vary by child, so it is vital that proper testing is conducted by a doctor to identify them. Such tests may include chest x-rays, lung function tests, allergy tests and arterial blood gas tests.
Symptoms
Pediatric asthma is more difficult to identify than asthma in adults, because some of the symptoms exhibited by adults are not seen in children. The AAAAI explains that rapid breathing, excessive coughing, congestion and wheezing are typical symptoms in asthmatic children. A persistent cough during the night, sometimes resulting in vomiting, is often a tell-tale sign of asthma in a child.
Prevention
Pediatric asthma cannot be cured. However, its symptoms may be prevented by eliminating triggers. Such triggers include medications, pet dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, pollen, mold, chemicals, viral infections and weather changes. Eliminating these triggers and using home humidifiers can help alleviate symptoms. According to Medline Plus, the airways in the lungs are narrower in children. Therefore, triggers may affect children more than in an asthmatic adult.
Treatment
Prescription medications are recommended for children who fail to respond to the removal of asthma triggers. There are two types of asthma medications: quick relief medications and long-term medications. Long-term medications, such as Flovent, are taken daily to relieve inflammation and prevent asthma attacks. Quick relief medications, like inhalers, are used at the onset of an asthma attack to help clear airway constriction.
Warning
Failure to attend to a child's asthma can result in further complications. According to the AAAI, 200,000 children are hospitalized in the United States each year as a result of asthma complications. Untreated pediatric asthma can even result in death. Everyday complications with pediatric asthma may include difficulty exercising, missed school, a need for a ventilator and permanent changes to the lungs.
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