| Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects 17 | | | | infections may be more prone to develop asthma. |
| million Americans. Of this group, almost 6 million | | | | Children who had a low birth weight or whose |
| are children. In other words, approximately two | | | | mother smoked or was exposed to smoking |
| out of every ten children suffer from this | | | | during her pregnancy are high risk for the |
| condition. If you feel that your child may have | | | | condition. Children who are exposed to cigarette |
| asthma, it will help you to decide on an effective | | | | smoke regularly are more prone to develop it. |
| treatment program if you first understand what | | | | Asthma also seems to be hereditary, so any child |
| asthma is and what symptoms it produces. | | | | who has a family member who suffers from |
| Asthma is defined as a chronic (long term) | | | | asthma is more likely to also develop it. If your |
| inflammatory disease of the airways. When the | | | | child falls in to one of these high risk categories, |
| airways (known as bronchi) become irritated or | | | | you should inform your family doctor. This |
| inflamed, they narrow and cause the sufferer to | | | | information will insure that he doctor will check |
| gasp to wheeze and have difficulty catching his | | | | your child regularly for any asthma symptoms. |
| breath. During this "attack," the muscle tissues | | | | When determining the treatment program for a |
| that are found in the walls of the bronchi begin to | | | | child suffering from asthma, your doctor will first |
| spasm, causing the cells that line the airway to | | | | determine the category that your child's |
| swell and secrete mucus. The combination of the | | | | symptoms fall into. There are several of these |
| two processes causes the airway to narrow, | | | | groups that are rated according to the frequency |
| making breathing difficult. The victim's airways will | | | | and severity of the asthma symptoms. From the |
| either open up on their own or in response to a | | | | mildest to the most severe they are as follows: |
| variety of treatments. The condition causes the | | | | mild intermittent (twice or less times a week), |
| airways to become highly responsive and | | | | mild persistent (more than twice a week but not |
| narrowing occurs when the airway is exposed to | | | | daily), moderate persistent (daily), and severe |
| certain stimuli such as cold air, exercise, dust, | | | | persistent (continually throughout the day). By |
| pollutants, stress, and anxiety. | | | | determining the severity of your child's condition, |
| There are other symptoms of asthma other than | | | | his doctor can recommend an effective |
| the obvious wheezing. Some children suffer from | | | | treatment program. |
| slight occurrences of shortness of breath. Others | | | | Asthma is a controllable condition as long as your |
| may feel pain in their chest or begin coughing. In | | | | child follows his treatment program and avoids |
| some cases, the child's back or neck will begin | | | | stimuli that may affect him adversely. In almost all |
| itching right before an asthma attack. Most | | | | cases, an asthma attack will pass and is not fatal. |
| children will tire easily and become irritated before | | | | In the case of a severe attack, however, medical |
| an attack is about to begin. In the case of an | | | | help should be called. One consolation is that most |
| infant, the baby may have feeding problems, | | | | children outgrow asthma as they reach adulthood. |
| grunting while he is eating when his asthma is | | | | As a parent of an asthmatic child, you will need to |
| beginning to bother him. | | | | teach your child the things that he should avoid as |
| Due to the variety of symptoms exhibited by | | | | well as the warning signs that an attack may be |
| different children, only your child's physician can | | | | coming on. If your child is age appropriate, you |
| determine if your child is suffering from asthma. | | | | should make sure that he knows how to take his |
| Some youngsters are in high risk groups to | | | | medication on his own. The combination of |
| develop the condition. A child who has a variety | | | | education and medication should enable your child |
| of allergies or suffers from numerous respiratory | | | | to enjoy a normal, happy childhood. |