Health Centres - Asthma and children
What is an asthma attack?
The mucous membranes in the small branches of the airways (bronchi) swell and the circular muscles contract ('spasm' or bronchospasm).
More mucus is produced in the already restricted airways, which makes breathing a struggle. This usually produces a wheezing sound when breathing out.
What symptoms in children can be due to asthma?
Small children (up to three years):
- a wheezing sound when breathing out
-
coughing, wheezing or breathlessness with exercise
- prolonged coughing, not because of a cold, often worse at night
- generally feeling unwell
- recurrent colds from which it takes a long time to recover.
Children from 3 to 15 years:
- a wheezing sound when breathing out
- prolonged coughing, especially at night
- waking up coughing during the night or in the morning
- inactivity or lethargy - no longer wishing to play physical games or take other exercise when they have enjoyed this before.
How common is asthma in children?
- Chronic asthma is the most frequent long-term children's disease.
- About 1 to 2 per cent of all children get chronic asthma during their childhood.
- Approximately 15 to 20 per cent of all children will have symptoms of wheeze without having chronic asthma.
What causes asthma in children?
An acute asthma attack usually occurs at the time of a cough and cold caused by a viral infection.
Wheezing in children is most often caused by colds rather than by asthma.
When they do develop asthma, it may be due to allergic reactions to irritants like those listed below:
-
pollen, eg grass or birch
-
animal hair or fur
-
food, eg milk or eggs
-
dust mites
- fungus.
What makes a child's asthma worse?
- Cigarette or pipe smoke.
- Colds.
- Pollution and dust.
- Exertion or exercise, however exercise should be encouraged, with asthma symptoms relieved by medication.
When should a parent visit the doctor?
- If you suspect your child may have asthma.
- When the asthma medication normally used does not work.
When is it necessary to call the doctor urgently?
- If the child has trouble breathing.
- If the skin changes colour to white or blue, particularly on the lips or around the mouth.
- If the breathing difficulty deteriorates dramatically.
- If the asthma attack is much worse than normal.
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