Asthma is a disease that affects people’s airways both during childhood and adulthood. However, in the case of the youngest children, parents should know very well the disease and its manifestations in order to know how to act on them.
What is asthma?
Asthma is an ailment that inflames the bronchial tubes and contracts the smooth muscle that surrounds them, closing their entrance and exit and causing the well-known difficulty in breathing. Increased mucus and inflammation in this area also contribute to its obstruction and breathing problems. In fact, the patient may suffer from such inflammation even though he/she is well, so the pediatric specialist usually prescribes preventive medications to be used daily.
Most common symptoms of asthma in children
Symptoms may vary depending on the patient, the stage of the disease and the phase of the day in which they occur. Coughing is one of the most common of these symptomatic episodes, and usually occurs during the night or early morning, disturbing the child’s sleep. On the other hand, the sensation of “tight chest” and wheezing are also very common, symptoms that occur when air passes through a partially obstructed airway.
Asthma attacks or crises are temporary episodes, which may appear if the patient does not follow the guideline indicated by the physician or if he/she does not follow the treatment instructions. The main thing is that the patient has a normal, active life and is not exposed to a series of aggravating factors.
Factors that cause and aggravate the onset of allergies
There are several types of allergies that can cause such inflammation and affect the bronchi of asthmatics. The most common are mites (dust), domestic animals such as dogs or cats, and fungi that grow in very humid environments. Likewise, exposure to cigarette smoke, insecticides or paint smells can also irritate the respiratory tract, aggravating the condition.
It is necessary that both the patient and the people around him/her know what factors affect him/her and how they do so in order to avoid both symptoms and periods of crisis. In case of doubts, it is recommended to contact pediatric professionals.