Asthma In Children: Causes And Diagnosis
Asthma in children is a common condition. In fact, it is the most common chronic disease in children. Current estimates indicate that it affects between 5% and 15% of the child population and its incidence continues to increase gradually.
Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways. Thus, it leads to difficulty in breathing manifested by coughing, choking and wheezing when inhaling and exhaling.
This condition is often related to allergies. This is one of the reasons why more and more children have it. It often happens that an asthmatic child is also allergic to pollen or house dust mites.
In today’s article, we explain the most common causes of asthma in children, along with their symptoms. We will also explain how doctors diagnose it. It is very important to distinguish it from other diseases in order to prescribe an adequate treatment.
What is Asthma in Children?
Asthma in children, as we mentioned above, is inflammation of the airways. For example, the air encounters more resistance as it enters and exits the lungs. This condition usually appears as a seizure.
Most children with asthma have their first attack before the age of four. What happens is that although the inflammation of the airways persists, it worsens during the crises. The symptoms also get worse.
Symptoms
This condition usually manifests as labored breathing and chest congestion. Children with this condition often have coughing attacks. These often worsen with an infection or cold or if a child is under stress.
There is usually also wheezing as the child tries to breathe. It usually sounds like some kind of whistle. However, everyone is different, so symptoms may vary from child to child.
In general, there are two main seasons of childhood asthma due to its association with allergies:
- The most sensitive time for these children is the beginning of fall and their school year. This is due to the changes in temperature.
- In the spring there are asthma attacks in children. This is mainly due to the increase in airborne pollen, one of the most common allergens affecting the population.
Complications
While most children only suffer from the above symptoms, some of them may experience complications. Asthma in children often leads to sleeping problems. This is due to the labored breathing.
It also takes longer for respiratory infections to heal. Also, children with asthma are often tired and have difficulty with simple activities such as playing and running around.
Diagnosing Asthma in Children
Asthma in children is difficult to diagnose, especially under 5 years of age. This is either because there are other conditions with similar symptoms or because they are related to asthma, such as:
- rhinitis,
- Bronchiolitis
- Sinusitis
Some tests can help a doctor with the diagnosis. For example, a spirometry allows them to evaluate lung function. If this test is inconclusive, they use an exhaled nitric oxide test instead.
Conclusion
Asthma in children is a fairly common disease with multiple causes and risk factors. Genetics also play an important role, along with, for example:
- stress
- Common cold
- Allergies
- And so forth
It is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. So it is important to describe the symptoms in detail to your doctor so that he or she can perform the necessary tests. Then you can treat your child well and prevent it from getting worse.
