A child’s incessant coughing or a cold that features a harsh cough or wheezing could be a sign of asthma. There’s help for that, a ThedaCare medical expert said.
Nearly five million children in the United States have asthma. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), it is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. It’s also a leading cause of missed school days.
“Asthma can be a serious condition for children,” said Michele Meszaros, a Nurse Practitioner with ThedaCare Physicians Pediatrics-Neenah. “With proper treatment, kids can live a normal life and participate in activities, including sports.”
Understanding Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the airways in the lungs. This causes them to become inflamed and narrow. Children with asthma may experience asthma attacks highlighted by frequent coughing and breathing problems without proper treatment. During an asthma attack, a child’s airways become inflamed and narrow. This can make breathing difficult.
Asthma symptoms and signs in school-age kids may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Chest tightness or pain
- Wheezing: a whistling sound when breathing
- Exercise intolerance: an inability to do physical activity that’s normal for their age
People can develop asthma at any age. The condition often starts during childhood, according to the AAFA.
There’s no single reason why people develop asthma. It can be a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
Common risk factors for developing asthma include, but are not limited to, living in households with lower incomes, being of Puerto Rican, Black, Indigenous, Native American or Alaska Native descent, living in inner cities and living in or near areas with high levels of air pollution.
“Some symptoms indicate an emergency,” Meszaros said. “If a child is experiencing these, seek immediate care at the doctor’s office or emergency department or call 911.”
Signs of an asthma emergency may include:
- Symptoms that don’t improve after 15-20 minutes or return again quickly despite use of a fast-acting inhaler
- A lasting cough that doesn’t respond to inhaled medicine
- Changes in a child’s color, like bluish or gray lips and fingernails
- Trouble talking and inability to speak in full sentences
- Retractions: when a child breathes in, the areas below and between the ribs and in the neck visibly pull in
Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose if someone has asthma, a doctor or advanced practice provider may take a medical history, conduct a physical exam and order a lung function test. This measures how much and how quickly someone can blow out air.
Children may be prescribed two types of medication for asthma. The first is called a rescue medication. This works quickly to open airways if someone is having trouble breathing or during an asthma attack. It’s delivered through an inhaler or a nebulizer when someone is coughing, wheezing or has shortness of breath.
Nebulizers turn liquid medicine into a mist the child breathes in through a mask or mouthpiece. These sometimes are recommended for younger children and toddlers.
The second type of medication is taken daily and designed to reduce airway inflammation over time to prevent symptoms. A child may take one or both of these medications.
“Your child’s provider may give you a treatment plan to help guide you on when your child needs which medication and when to call a medical provider,” Meszaros said. “You can share that plan with your child’s day care or school. At your child’s wellness visits, your provider may check in with you to ensure your child’s asthma is well-controlled.”
Additional Triggers
Some children suffer from exercise-induced bronchospasm. Physical activity can trigger this and it can lead to coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Symptoms often appear during or shortly after exercise and can include wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
“Talk to your child’s provider if you’re concerned their breathing gets in the way of their activities,” Meszaros said. “We’re here to help, whether your child is newly diagnosed with asthma or you’re seeking to better manage their symptoms.”
Parents or guardians seeking help with managing their child’s asthma are encouraged to visit MyThedaCare to be connected with a medical expert.
