Asthma in children is the same lung disease seen in adults, but children often have different symptoms than adults. Childhood asthma is also known as pediatric asthma. If your child has asthma; The lungs and airways can easily become inflamed when they have a cold or are exposed to substances such as pollen. Symptoms can make it difficult for your child to do daily activities or sleep. Sometimes asthma attacks can even lead to hospitalization. In childhood asthma, you must act with your allergy doctor in order to control the disease and prevent your child from being less affected.

What are the Symptoms of Asthma in Children?

The asthma symptoms of all children are not the same. However, the most common asthma symptoms in children are:

  • A cough that doesn’t go away (this can sometimes be the only symptom)
  • Frequent bouts of coughing, especially during play or exercise, at night, in cold weather, or when laughing or crying
  • A cough that gets worse after a viral infection
  • Less energy during play and stopping to catch your breath during activities
  • Avoiding sports or social activities
  • Difficulty sleeping due to coughing or breathing problems
  • Rapid breathing
  • Tightness or pain in the chest
  • Wheezing, whistling sound when you breathe or exhale
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tight neck and chest muscles
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Difficulty eating

These Symptoms Require Immediate Response!

There are some symptoms in childhood asthma that require urgent intervention. What are these:

  • To stand in the middle of a sentence to breathe
  • Using stomach muscles to breathe
  • A belly that sinks under their ribs when they try to breathe
  • Chest and sides that go in while breathing
  • Enlarged nostrils
  • Rapid pulse
  • Sweating more than usual
  • Chest pain

What Causes Childhood Asthma?

The most common causes of childhood asthma are:

  • Airway infections: This includes colds, pneumonia, and sinus infections.
  • Allergens: Your child may be allergic to things like cockroaches, dust mites, mold, pet hair, and pollen.
  • Irritant stimuli: Things like air pollution, chemicals, cold air, odors or smoke; may disturb the airways.
  • Exercising: May cause wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.
  • Stress: It can cause your child’s shortness of breath and worsen their symptoms.

What are the Risk Factors?

Asthma is the leading cause of long-term illness in children. It is known to affect about 7 million children in the United States of America (USA). These numbers are increasing every day. Usually, most children show their first symptoms by the age of 5. However, asthma can start at any age.

Things that make a child more likely to have asthma include:

  • Nose allergies (hay fever) or eczema (allergic skin rash)
  • A family history of asthma or allergies
  • Multiple respiratory infections
  • Low birth weight
  • Being exposed to secondhand smoking before or after birth
  • Being raised in a low-income environment