Find An Allergist / Immunologist   |   Pollen Counts   |   Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology   |   Annual Meeting    Site Map   Contact   Home    Search
Patients & Consumers Online Tools Find an Allergist / Immunologist Pollen Counts Diseases 101 Drug Guide Featured Resources » AAAAI Tips Brochures Topic of the Month Information Request Form Donate Now Constituencies » Patients & Consumers Contact Search by Condition (A-Z) Request a Speaker Smoke Free Homes Referral Guidelines Breakthroughs in Bioscience Other Resources En Español Just for Kids Seniors		What is Asthma?: How can you tell if your child may have it? You hear what sounds like a whistle when your child exhales. Or perhaps he or she seems to get easily tired when playing soccer. Maybe there’s just a persistent cough. But you wonder — could this be asthma? While asthma is a term often heard, it is frequently misunderstood. Asthma is, unfortunately, all too common. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic disorder in children and adolescents, affecting nearly five million children under the age of 18, including an estimated 1.3 million children under the age of five. Fifty to 80% of children affected with asthma develop symptoms before they are five years old. Because asthma affects the ability to breathe and to oxygenate the blood, it is a very serious disease. But it is a disease that can be well managed. With proper diagnosis, an action plan, and guidance from parents and caregivers, children with asthma can lead lives very similar to those of their non-asthmatic friends. Education and commitment are key. What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the airways. That means, the tubes that bring air to the lungs are constantly swollen and inflamed. This swelling makes it more difficulty for air to move freely in and out. Those airways are also sensitive to certain triggers, and these triggers can differ from person to person. Many children with asthma have what is termed "allergic asthma", that means allergens worsen their symptoms. For these children, exposure to allergens such as dust mites, mold, animal dander and cockroaches can further irritate their "twitchy" airways causing even more constriction, the production of excess mucus and a tightening of the muscles that surround the airways. How can you tell if your child has asthma? Asthma can be a tricky disease to pinpoint for a number of reasons, including the fact that there are other respiratory ailments with overlapping symptoms, and some children can seem symptom free for long-periods of time but then experience intermittent asthma "attacks." Watch for symptoms that can clue you in to seek the advice of a physician. These include: Coughing. This could be constant or just intermittent. Not all children who have the disease exhibit symptoms each and every day. Wheezing or a whistling sounds audible when your child exhales. Shortness of breath or rapid breathing. This may or may not be associated with exercise. Chest tightness. Other symptoms can include: Fatigue—your child may slow down, stop playing or become easily irritated. A young child may say his chest "hurts" or "feels funny." Infants may have problems feeding and may grunt during suckling. Older children may avoid activities such as sports or sleepovers. A child may have problems sleeping because of nighttime coughing or difficulty breathing. Who develops asthma? While there are no clear markers to predict who will develop asthma and who won’t, studies have shown that factors associated with the onset of asthma symptoms in children include: Infants and young children who wheeze with viral upper respiratory infections. Allergy. The relationship between asthma and allergies is very strong. If your child has allergies, be on the alert for potential signs of childhood asthma. A family history of asthma and/or allergy. Perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke and allergens No two people have exactly the same asthma symptoms or outcomes. It’s a very individualized disease. The bottom line is to watch your child and listen to their observations. If you suspect asthma, get your child examined and tested by a knowledgeable physician. It can make all the difference. This article was written and medically reviewed: March 31, 2000 Information for this educational article was derived from the document: Pediatric Asthma: Promoting Best Practice Guide for Managing Asthma in Children Known as the Pediatric Asthma Guide for short, it represents the collective work of many people and many organizations. It is the only document for treating childhood asthma that is endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Guide is based on guidelines developed by the NAEPP. This pediatric initiative adapted those guidelines into an easily-referenced, user-friendly, pediatric-focused document for medical professionals. The Guide is but one part of a larger initiative committed to ensuring that a broad spectrum of health care providers learn about, understand and implement clinical and best practice information for diagnosing and managing children with asthma. <back>
	© 1996-2008 · All Rights Reserved · American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology