Asthmatic Attack in Children?

Asthma in children is not very different from asthma in adults. This illness is a significant cause of increased ER visits, hospital stays, and missed school days. However, you must overcome specific challenges to maintain the respiratory rate in children. 

Sadly, there is no definite treatment for asthma in children. Additionally, the symptoms may even persist until adulthood. Yet, you and your child can manage the symptoms by protecting the lungs appropriately. This blog post discusses the rising prevalence of asthma, respiratory issues, and allergies in children. Read to know more!

What are the Common Allergies in Children?

When people develop an allergy, their immune system interprets an allergen, a substance that triggers allergic reactions. The immune system perceives it as a foreign body. Although a range of substances can cause asthma, the most common allergies in children occur due to moulds, pollens, dust mites, and animal dander. 

Many times, specific food allergies in children trigger the immune system substantially. Such allergies can drastically affect the immune system and build respiratory disorders in children.

Once you know of your child’s asthma/food triggers, you can help avoid them as much as possible by making a few lifestyle adjustments. Here’s how:

1. Educate your child about proper hygiene. It will help them lower their risk of catching a cold, flu, or other illness.
2. Giving medication to control asthma symptoms in children effectively can help reduce limitations on playtime, sports, and other activities your child may enjoy if they have exercise-induced asthma.
3. Check for food allergies in children. Keep your house and surroundings safe, clean, and dust-free to reduce the likelihood of allergy symptoms in children.

What are the Common Asthma Symptoms in Children?

It can be challenging to differentiate between the signs of asthma and common respiratory diseases in children. But, the symptoms of asthma in children are typically long-lasting and can have a detrimental impact on your child's quality of life. Below are the most typical asthma symptoms in children. 

1. Wheezing (squeaking/whistling noise while breathing)
2. Coughing (becomes worse at night)
3. Deteriorating respiratory rate in children (shortness of breath despite doing normal activities)

Additionally, here are some other asthma symptoms in children:

Toddlers May Experience:

• Difficulty breathing while playing
• Trouble sleeping at night
• Delayed recovery from respiratory disorders in children 
• Fatigue (more than general)

Older Children  May Experience:

• In addition to the symptoms above, older children may also experience:
• Persistent cough at night time
• Lack of energy 
• Tightness in the chest/ other respiratory disorders in children
• While some children might experience only a few of these symptoms, others may experience severe symptoms that might lead to an asthma attack. 

Triggers of Asthma in Children

Triggers can worsen bronchial asthma symptoms in children and lead to an attack. Some of the common triggers that lead to asthma are:

1. Physical exercise (in dry/cold/humid weather) 
2. Respiratory infections (flu/common cold) 
3. Allergies (caused due to dust mites, mould, food, animals, and other allergens) 
4. Air pollution or smoke (bonfire, tobacco, cigarettes, industrial pollution). 

Causes of Asthma in Children:

Developing asthma symptoms in children can be caused by several factors. Some of the causes of asthma in children include:

1. Allergies: Allergies increase the risk of developing respiratory disorders in children. Moreover, specific allergy symptoms can trigger the development of asthma. 

2. Genetics: If a child has a family history of allergies or asthma, they can develop bronchial asthma or respiratory illnesses. 

3. Infections: Regular airway infections are one of the leading causes of respiratory distress in children under the age of 5. 

Treatment of Asthma in Children

Asthma has no known treatment. Treatments generally focus on lessening or curing the symptoms of asthma or respiratory distress and stopping continuous airway inflammation. Both at-home and clinical treatment are effective and helpful in managing the symptoms. Here’s how. 

Clinical Treatments:

Some children might need medication to control their asthma symptoms even after making some lifestyle modifications. These drugs for asthma might consist of:

• Bronchodilators (help in enhancing ventilation and relaxing the airways) 
• Anti-inflammatories (reducing the oedema and inflammation in the airways) 

Although many of these drugs can be given in different ways, nebulisers and oral pills work best for treating younger children.

At-home Treatments:

You can do a few things at home to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks and respiratory rates in children. 

• Humidifier: Remember that your home's air quality can worsen asthma in children if it's too dry. Use a humidifier in your child’s room to maintain a relative humidity of 30-50%.
• Breathing Exercises: When symptoms flare up, practice breathing techniques with your child. It will help avoid hyperventilation.

How to Keep Your Kids Healthy?

You must help your child in adhering to their asthma treatment plan and taking their controller medications on time. Below are a few other steps to keep your kids healthy, thereby reducing the risk of asthma in children. 

• Get Vaccinated: Kids and teenagers with asthma must receive their vaccinations on time. Vaccines prepare the immune system for allergic attacks and keep the respiratory rate in children at a steady pace. 
• Hygiene: Washing hands is an easy yet effective strategy to stop the spread of germs. Wearing a face mask is another helpful strategy for lowering exposure to respiratory disorders and allergies in children. Staying away from busy areas, especially indoors, can also be effective. 
• Smoke-free Environment: Asthma triggers like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke, etc., should be avoided at all costs by those who have the condition. It is essential to keep your home clear of smoke because it will only trigger asthma symptoms in children. Parents and other caregivers who smoke or use vape devices must avoid smoking or do so outdoors.
• Steer Clear of Allergic Triggers: Allergy triggers can make asthma worse. Hence, try to limit your child's exposure to them. Ensure the house and surroundings are cleaned to lower allergens and respiratory virus microorganisms.  
• Medications: Make sure you have enough asthma medication. Ensure you get refills in advance when your child's inhalers are about to run out.

In Conclusion

An asthma attack can quickly turn into an asthma emergency. Especially when it comes to children, you might not want to take risks. However, if you take quick action, you can reduce the risk of asthma in children. If the asthma attack symptoms  still appear after medications, follow up with your child’s doctor to restudy the asthma action plan.

It is highly recommended that you invest in a proper health insurance plan for your family. Care Health Insurance offers you numerous plans that can provide coverage for you and your children. Depending on your insurance needs and your budget, you can choose between an individual or a family floater plan. 

>> Also Read: Does Your Health Insurance Provide Coverage for Asthma Treatment?

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. For more details about the health insurance plans and their benefits please refer to the sales prospectus, policy terms, and conditions.