Signs Your Child Has Asthma

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 8.4 percent of American children have some degree of asthma--from mild to severe. Besides being life-threatening, this chronic respiratory condition causes many school absences and emergency room visits each and every year. Just what is asthma, and what are the signs that your child may have it? The pediatricians at Mundelein Pediatrics in Grayslake, IL, answer those questions and show parents and children ways to manage this worrisome condition.

Signs your child has asthma

Asthma is an inflammation of the respiratory tract which narrows the airway and leads to difficulty in breathing. Asthma is chronic; in other words, it does not go away. It is characterized by sudden or acute attacks with these symptoms:

• Wheezing
• Formation of mucus
• Nighttime coughing
• Chest tightness
• Fatigue

These signs are usually brought on by one or more triggers such as stress, cold weather, allergens (such as wood smoke, animal dander, certain foods, medications or pollen), a cold or the flu and physical exertion. These triggers cause the dangerous inflammation in the respiratory tract which is asthma's signature symptom.

What you can do

If you suspect that your child is developing asthma symptoms, contact Mundelein Pediatrics. The doctor will examine your child, listen to their breath sounds, review the medical history and do some tests of respiratory function.

One such test is peak flow, a measurement of how much air the child can exhale forcibly in one breath.
In fact, peak flow is something most patients and parents can measure at home to track asthma symptoms. Additionally, many asthma patients use low doses of inhaled corticosteroids to prevent daily symptoms. Fast-acting inhalers, such as Albuterol, open the lung passages and relieve sudden symptoms

In addition, your Grayslake pediatrician may suggest allergy testing to pinpoint environmental triggers such as pollen, animal dander or dust mites. They also inform parents about when to bring their children to Mundelein Pediatrics for a sick visit or when to visit the hospital ER for severe asthma flare-ups.

Lastly, the doctor will help you and your child formulate an asthma action plan, customized for their particular needs. This written plan shows patients how to recognize and manage their triggers and symptoms and how to live well with asthma.

Find out more

If you are wondering if your child is developing asthma, please contact Mundelein Pediatrics for a consultation in Grayslake, IL. Learn all you can! Please call (847) 548-7337.