Asthma is one of the most common illnesses of childhood. In fact, approximately 5 million children have asthma. It is an inflammatory condition of the lungs that causes irritation & swelling of the airways. It also causes extra mucous to be produced which can clog and obstruct the airway. The extra irritation can cause muscles that surround the airways to contract, squeezing the airway itself.

Thus, the inflammation, mucous, & muscle spasms make it harder to breathe. When this happens, your child may have symptoms such as a tight feeling in their chest, coughing during the day or night, wheezing, coughing or wheezing with active play or sports, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

This inflammation can be caused by a number of different things including allergies, viral respiratory infections (like a cold), and irritants in the air & environment. Certain things may make asthma worse and these are called triggers which include certain animals, the weather, pollen, mold, laughing or crying, running, cockroaches, cigarette smoke, and normal household dust. Steering clear of these triggers or finding ways to reduce them are an important part of treating & controlling asthma.

Asthma can be controlled very well with certain medications & treatment options. There are daily, long-term medicines that help to control the inflammation in your child's lungs- these are called controllers (either inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta agonists). Additionally, there are other quick-relief medications to be used when your child is actively wheezing or coughing called bronchodilators, such as albuterol, that rescue your child from an asthma attack.

Your health care provider may also order Pulmonary Function Testing (PFTs) for your child if they are developmentally ready (older than 5-6 years old) which is a test that shows how well the lungs are working. Infant PFTs can also be done in special circumstances when smaller infants & toddlers need direct measures of the degree of obstruction and progression of their disease or response to prescribed treatment. These tests help to guide the health care provider so that the best treatment can be individualized for your child.

It is important that your health care provider and you find the right combination of these medications so that your child's asthma is well controlled and so that your child can attend school regularly, participate in sports or activities that your child enjoys, and live an overall healthy & active life!

Please see our Patient Education Handouts for useful information about asthma devices from many of the major providers.