Article from Everydayhealth.com
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Asthma affects nearly nine million children in the United States, making it the most widespread chronic pediatric disorder. In four out of five cases, symptoms of childhood asthma develop before age 5. "Twenty percent of children at age 4 have allergies, and about 40 percent of 6-year-olds do," says Paul Ehrlich, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the NYU School of Medicine. "Some of these children go on to have chronic asthma because their airways can't handle all the mucus — and some of them never get rid of it." Dealing with your child's respiratory problems aggressively and early on is essential for keeping permanent problems at bay.
Causes and Prevention of Childhood Asthma
"Childhood asthma is not really a disease as much as it is various types of respiratory problems that we've grouped together," says Dr. Ehrlich. "Some children have regular asthma, which is inflammation of the airways, and some just have respiratory problems, meaning they're usually fine but get inflammation in the lungs when they get an infection."
"Childhood asthma is not really a disease as much as it is various types of respiratory problems that we've grouped together," says Dr. Ehrlich. "Some children have regular asthma, which is inflammation of the airways, and some just have respiratory problems, meaning they're usually fine but get inflammation in the lungs when they get an infection."
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Do You Want To Cure Asthma Naturally ?
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Do You Want To Cure Asthma Naturally ?
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While it's widely agreed upon that genetic predisposition is a central factor in the development of asthma — the risk of asthma increases if one or both parents have asthma — the literature remains divided about how to prevent the development of such respiratory problems. "Some studies suggest that exposure to allergens in small amounts will allow children to deal better as they get older — but that has yet to be proven," says Ehrlich.
There is evidence supporting the "hygiene hypothesis," which places infants' reduced exposure to certain bacteria at the root of the increase in childhood asthma. Additionally, there have been studies showing that early exposure to triggers such as infection in childhood may decrease the chance of developing asthma. For example, a 2008 study that followed 922 children found that 5-year-olds in day care (which was used as a measure for exposure to infection) were significantly less at risk for wheezing than those not in daycare.
In other cases, keeping children with asthma away from environmental allergens like dust mites and pollens prevented allergen-induced asthma, according to David Resnick, MD, director of the Allergy Division at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York. Dr. Resnick says that type of asthma is more likely in children and young adults ages 5 to 20. "As people get older they may lose their allergy-induced asthma," he says.
Treatment of Childhood Asthma
"Treatment options for children with asthma are very similar to those for adults," says Resnick. "We always talk about avoiding allergen triggers — that's the first therapy." While the types of medications recommended for treating adults and children with asthma are the same, the devices differ for very young children. "A 1- or 2-year-old can't use an inhaler, so you may need to use a nebulizer, in which you aerosol the treatment and they breathe it in," Resnick notes. These inhaled medications include steroids like fluticasone, mometasone, or budesonide to reduce inflammation and can be taken in combination with a beta-agonist, or bronchodilator medication that allows the muscles in the airways to relax. "We also sometimes prescribe daily preventive medications such as Singulair, which come in chewable tablets," adds Resnick.
"Treatment options for children with asthma are very similar to those for adults," says Resnick. "We always talk about avoiding allergen triggers — that's the first therapy." While the types of medications recommended for treating adults and children with asthma are the same, the devices differ for very young children. "A 1- or 2-year-old can't use an inhaler, so you may need to use a nebulizer, in which you aerosol the treatment and they breathe it in," Resnick notes. These inhaled medications include steroids like fluticasone, mometasone, or budesonide to reduce inflammation and can be taken in combination with a beta-agonist, or bronchodilator medication that allows the muscles in the airways to relax. "We also sometimes prescribe daily preventive medications such as Singulair, which come in chewable tablets," adds Resnick.
Managing Childhood Asthma at School
"The teacher needs to be educated about symptoms and when to send a child to the nurse," says Resnick. "Most school nurses have written orders on each child and how to administer meds. They will treat them at school and call the physician." Ehrlich points out that teachers must be aware of more than just the standard coughing and wheezing that indicate an asthma attack. "If a normally disruptive child isn't being disruptive one day, it could be because he's breathing at 30 to 40 times a minute and is exhausted," he says. "The best thing to do is to know who the asthmatic children are and keep an eye on them."
"The teacher needs to be educated about symptoms and when to send a child to the nurse," says Resnick. "Most school nurses have written orders on each child and how to administer meds. They will treat them at school and call the physician." Ehrlich points out that teachers must be aware of more than just the standard coughing and wheezing that indicate an asthma attack. "If a normally disruptive child isn't being disruptive one day, it could be because he's breathing at 30 to 40 times a minute and is exhausted," he says. "The best thing to do is to know who the asthmatic children are and keep an eye on them."
It's also important for teachers and parents to keep the emotional aspects of childhood asthma in mind. "A child with asthma goes out at recess and sits down and doesn't get involved with other children," says Ehrlich. "The kids may say, 'I don't want to deal with him, he's not involved with us,' and this may contribute to the child not being part of class — he can get lost." Not only does a child risk stigma at recess, there's the possibility of having to avoid certain foods or even miss days of school because of the condition.
Research has also shown that kids with asthma more frequently have ADD/ADHD, depression, behavioral disorders, and learning disabilities, as well as poorer school attendance. Children with asthma were also found to be bullied more often than their healthy peers, and are more likely to abuse drugs. Even when controlling for socioeconomic factors, having asthma significantly increases the odds of developmental, emotional, and behavioral problems.
The good new is that if dealt with properly, these risks are reduced. "If children use their preventive medications, they rarely have breakthrough attacks," Resnick says. "A great majority of our patients are not limited at all."
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Tired of inhalers, nebulizers, and steroids? Cure asthma naturally!
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Tired of inhalers, nebulizers, and steroids? Cure asthma naturally!
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