Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. Controlling asthma may mean making significant lifestyle changes to help ensure that attacks are limited. It's also important for both your child and those caring for him or her to know how to handle the situation in such an event.
Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Fast or rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath (even during rest)
- Tightness in the chest
- Cough
Treatment:
Children suffering from asthma should avoid triggers, monitor symptoms and take their medication, which often include inhaled steroids and bronchodilators. Many patients with asthma also have short term medication for use during an attack, including bronchodilators such as inhalers or corticosteroids given by mouth or vein.
Asthma Emergency Plan - It is important for families to have an emergency plan that outlines what to do when your child's asthma flares up. If your child is in school, this should be given to teachers, school nurses, PE teaches and coaches. You should also find out what needs to be done to ensure that your child gets the proper medication during school hours.
Bronchitis occurs when the air passages in your lungs become inflamed. While many people may think of bronchitis as just being an intense chest cold, it can be an acute or chronic condition. Acute bronchitis is usually due to a viral infection such as a cold that starts in your nose or sinuses and spreads to the airways. With chronic bronchitis, or COPD, there is a persistent wet cough.
Symptoms may include:
- Cough that produces yellow or green mucus
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Wheezing
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Fatigue
Treatment:
Treatment for acute bronchitis may include cough medicine and expectorants, while treatment for chronic bronchitis or COPD may include the use of a Bronchodilator.
Allergies can take many forms including respiratory, skin, food, seasonal and/or indoor allergies. They can also have a major impact on a child and/or family's lifestyle, impacting what you eat, how you do your laundry, where you play, even what you serve at a birthday party.
Symptoms may include:
- Itchy red skin rash
- Hives
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Dark circles under the eye
- Crease near the bottom of the nose
Food allergy symptoms may differ. These could include:
- Hives
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
Treatment:
Treatment for allergies may include a change in the child's diet or lifestyle, medication such as antihistamines or decongestants, or allergy shots.
