Asthma is a long-term condition where the airways are inflamed and react to certain triggers, narrowing and producing extra mucus. It’s one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood.
There’s no cure, but that matters less than it sounds. Well-managed asthma should not stop a child running, playing sport, sleeping through the night or going to school.
What it looks like
- Coughing, often worse at night or after exercise
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- A tight feeling in the chest
These can come and go, or be there most of the time. They can also be caused by other things — allergies among them — which is why it’s worth having your child assessed rather than assuming either way.
Triggers
Asthma tends to run in families, and what sets it off differs from child to child. Common triggers are viral colds, exercise, cold air, pollen, dust, animals, smoke and air pollution. Working out your child’s own pattern is most of managing it well.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosing asthma in children takes a history, an examination, and sometimes lung function testing or a trial of asthma medication to see whether symptoms respond. Treatment usually combines a reliever inhaler for symptoms with, where needed, a preventer taken daily.
If your child has been prescribed an inhaler, bring it to appointments — technique is worth checking, and it’s the single most common reason a treatment appears not to be working.
When to seek help urgently
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if your child is struggling to breathe, can’t speak in full sentences, is drawing in at the ribs or neck with each breath, or if their reliever inhaler isn’t helping.