The main airways of the lungs, commonly referred to as the bronchial tubes, become swollen in asthma kids just as they do in adults. Unfortunately, it's often more difficult to diagnose with asthma kids. Why? Because the symptoms are often found in numerous other childhood illnesses, such as a cough or chest congestion resulting from a common cold.
So what should you look for if you're concerned that your child might have asthma?
In the case of infants (and yes, infants can have asthma), you'll want to take notice any time you encounter a rattling cough, rapid breathing, frequent chest colds, grunting when nursing, and/or a weak cry. Of course, these may be perfectly innocent symptoms of nothing more than a cold. That's why it's important to involve your pediatrician if you become concerned. He can work with you to determine if there's a problem or not.
In small children, you'll not only want to look for symptoms, you'll want to listen to what your child tells you. For instance, if your kid mentions that his or her "chest feels funny" or asks "why am I always coughing," these are clues that you need to note. Asthma kids can be especially challenging because no two children suffer asthma in exactly the same way or exhibit the exact same symptoms.
Other symptoms you should look for in your child include violent coughing after strenuous activity, rapid breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and shortness of breath, or consistent coughing at night. A lingering cough after a recent cold can also be a sign of asthma. If symptoms appear to be aggravated by changes in the weather, laughing or crying, or strong perfumes or odors ... these can all be indicators that should prompt a visit to your family physician.
In addition, there are some mild indicators that can be easy to overlook. For instance, waking up tired in the morning may be the result of coughing or having trouble breathing during the night. These occurrences can easily disturb your child's sleep and result in exhaustion. Or if your youngster is experiencing nightmares that involve asthmatic clowns or bears, this can often be a sign that his or her sleep is being disturbed by various asthma symptoms.
Some children may exhibit all of these symptoms, while other children may exhibit as few as one or two. That's why it can sometimes be challenging to diagnose asthma kids. However, by taking note of the little events in your child's health life (the lingering cough, the difficult nights, the shortness of breath), and sharing this information with your child's doctor, he can help you determine whether or not there's a problem.
If there is a problem, if it turns out that your child does have asthma, don't panic. Your doctor can help you develop a plan that can help minimize the occurrences of attacks and allow your youngster to live an active, rambunctious childhood. As he or she grows older, you may find that the symptoms become more pronounced or even less pronounced. So, you'll want to keep an eye on the situation. If the symptoms change, your doctor can adjust his treatments accordingly.
While the symptoms in asthma kids can be especially unsettling for a parent, there's no need to feel overwhelmed. Great advances have been made in recent years in the treatment of asthma. There's absolutely no reason your child can't still enjoy every moment of his or her childhood.
Receive a free, comprehensive guide asthma guide by visiting Understanding Asthma
And if you'd like to learn more about asthma kids, please visit: Pediatric Asthma
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