Did you know that asthma is the leading cause of chronic diseases and affects approximately 11-13% of the total population of children worldwide? For obscure reasons, the frequency of asthma in kids is consistently rising.
While asthma symptoms can start at any stage of life, most people experience manifestations by age 5. However, many asthma cases get too critical due to late diagnosis. This gets quite challenging when spotting asthma symptoms. The main question here is, what are symptoms linked to the condition? Before we get to answer that, let’s first know what asthma is.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung disease linked to inflammation of the bronchial tubes with persistent production of tacky discharges inside the tubes, causing breathing difficulties. Most people associate asthma with wheezing. However, note that not all youngsters with asthma wheeze.
Ongoing hacking might be the main clear sign, yet a youngster’s asthma might go unnoticed if the cough is credited to intermittent bronchitis instead.
Common Symptoms of Asthma in Children
Most kids with asthma show its symptoms before they turn five. In babies, little children, and preschoolers, the bronchial tubes that permit air to enter and leave the lungs are quite narrow. Common colds and the flu can inflame these airways, making them much narrower. So it very well might be hard for guardians, and even specialists, to perceive when asthma brings about side effects in little kids. That’s why you must get to familiarize yourself with asthma symptoms.
Below are the common symptoms that parents and guardians should be looking out for when attempting to diagnose asthma.
• A persistent cough which often occurs at night
• The wheezing sounds. This is the most expected asthma symptom. It is a whistling sound that is produced when the kid breathes out.
• Difficulties in breathing. This can be hard to notice in small children. However, watch out for abnormal fast breathing that sometimes causes the skin around the neck and ribs to pull in.
• Frequent Colds
Your kid might have just one of these manifestations or a few of them. You might believe it’s simply a cold or even bronchitis. However, if the above symptoms persist or recur, this might be a red flag that it’s asthma. Furthermore, symptoms might deteriorate when your kid is around asthma triggers, like irritants floating in the air like smoke, allergens like dust, pet dander, or dust mites.
Why It Can Be Difficult To Spot Asthma
Did you know that a lot of people currently being treated for asthma may not actually have the condition? Misdiagnosis is common when it comes to asthma. This is based on the fact that symptoms associated with asthma are mostly misunderstood.
Secondly, the disease is chronic and can affect anyone, right from childhood to old age. Asthma can be identified by frequent shortness of breath and wheezing attacks, with the seriousness and recurrence of attacks shifting from one individual to another. These attacks are related to variable airflow deterrent and irritation inside the lungs, which, whenever left untreated, can be hazardous.
How Can It Be Managed If a Child Is Diagnosed With the Condition?
Proper treatment of asthma is essential, and every child with the condition deserves to get the same – asthma can be deadly if left unattended. However, don’t be discouraged because the good news is that the symptoms and are very much manageable with appropriate treatment.
If your child is diagnosed with asthma, the following tips will help you stay on the right track during treatment.
Get an action plan from a specialist. An action plan is a set of written instructions on taking prescribed medicines to avoid the triggers. Follow these instructions to the letter for better asthma treatment of your child.
• Stick to the doctor’s prescription.
Do not deviate from the doctor’s instruction on the medication whatsoever.
• Please beware of any triggers and avoid them.
Learn to identify the respective asthma triggers and keep your child away from them.
• Know what to do in case of a flare-up
Know when your kid has severe symptoms, and reach out to the doctor as soon as possible.
Note that asthma treatment works very effectively when done correctly and at the right time.
