Pediatric Asthma Assessment & Treatment

Asthma is the most common serious chronic disease of childhood, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. It affects five million children, prompting three million visits to doctors and 200,000 hospital visits every year.

Asthma

• Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways. The inflammation makes it more difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. Inflammation is commonly triggered by allergies, viruses or exercise.

Symptoms

• Pediatric symptoms include recurrent cough, chest congestion and rapid or noisy breathing. Children with asthma may or may not have the same symptoms that adults typically have, including wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Because children's airways are smaller, symptoms can appear suddenly and severely.

Assessment

• Asthma is difficult to assess because it can have multiple causes. Doctors and other health care providers typically evaluate how often symptoms occur, how severe the symptoms are, any family history of asthma, possible triggers in a child's life and other aspects of a child's environment. Older children are also able to perform pulmonary function tests under the guidance of health care providers.

Treatment

• Treatment is multifaceted. It includes avoiding triggers, taking daily medication to manage symptoms and taking medication for asthma flareups. Treatment also includes helping asthma patients learn how to recognize and treat an asthma emergency.

Prognosis

• With proper management, children with asthma can live normal, active lives.