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Any sort of breathing trouble is stressful, more so when children are afflicted. One of the most common chronic airway and non-communicable diseases worldwide is asthma and the incidence just keeps rising, with the WHO reporting that 235 million people suffer from this disease. And that’s only a conservative estimate.

Asthma involves chronic inflammation and obstruction of the airways. There are certain triggers to childhood asthma, like inhaling pollen, a common cold or other respiratory infections, and of course weather changes, particularly cold or damp air, which cause the lungs and airways to become inflamed, thus hampering routine activities like school, sports and even sleep. Sometimes, unmanaged asthma in children could lead to dangerous asthma attacks.

While childhood asthma isn’t curable and symptoms can often continue well into adulthood, it’s possible to manage the symptoms better with proper treatment, for children as well as adults.

Common symptoms to look out for:

The checklist includes:

• Frequent, intermittent coughing
• Difficulty sleeping because of shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• Whistling or wheezing sound while breathing out
• Breathlessness
• Feeling of tightness or chest congestion
• Younger children might feel pain in the chest
• Coughing or wheezing bouts worsened by a respiratory infection, like a cold or the flu
• Slow recovery and lingering bronchitis following a respiratory infection
• Respiratory distress while exercising
• Constant fatigue precipitated by inadequate sleep

These symptoms often vary from child to child and sometimes asthma could be difficult to tell from infectious bronchitis or some other respiratory issues. Nonetheless, you should see a doctor if you notice any of the above.

Red-flag signs for emergency treatment

You must seek emergency care if your child:

• Needs to stop midsentence to catch his/her breath
• Is breathing using the abdominal muscles
• Is opening up the nostrils wide while breathing in
• Has labored breathing and the abdomen is drawn inwards below the ribcage while breathing in

Very often, an asthma attack starts with a simple cough, which could progress to wheezing and severe respiratory distress.

The role weather change plays in childhood asthma

Weather conditions can trigger symptoms of asthma. For many children, their asthma symptoms take a turn for the worse during certain seasons. For some, even a severe storm could be a trigger. Cold, dry air often causes bad flare-ups. In our conditions, while the hot and humid air is also an issue, wet and windy weather can cause nasty exacerbations as well, by enabling mold growth, while wind blows mold and pollen through air. If you have noticed that pollen, mold or other allergens worsen your child’s asthma symptoms, tell your doctor. Perhaps an allergy test will be advised.

The risk factors for childhood asthma

These could include:

• Exposure to tobacco smoke, including pre-birth
• Some allergic reactions, including skin reactions, food allergies or allergic rhinitis
• Any family history of asthma or allergies
• Dwelling in a heavily polluted locality
• Being obese
• Breathing issues like rhinitis, sinusitis or pneumonia
• Heartburn or gastro-esophageal reflux disease

Tips for prevention

Being careful to avoid asthma triggers are the best ways to prevent asthma attacks:

• Look out for allergens and irritants that trigger asthma symptoms.
• Make sure your child isn’t exposed to tobacco smoke during infancy.
• Regular physical activity helps the lungs to work more efficiently.
• Keep a close vigil on your child’s asthma signs and symptoms.
• Keep in touch with your child’s pediatrician.
• Watch your child’s weight.
• Watch out for acid reflux or heartburn.
• Make sure your child gets a flu shot every year.
• Take adequate precautions during weather changes.

Our Child Specialists have the necessary expertise and experience in diagnosing and treating all respiratory problems in children.