Treatments for Babies with Asthma

Asthma is a medical condition that causes the airways and lungs to become irritated and inflamed, making breathing difficult. It can be especially scary for parents to learn that their baby may have asthma. However, most do well with the proper care, doctor guidance and medication. The incidence of asthma among babies and children is increasing in the United States, though the reason for this isn't completely understood.

Relief Medications

• Some asthma medications are given to babies to provide fast relief from symptoms they're currently experiencing. Babies usually inhale the drugs through a mask, which is attached to either a metered dose inhaler (MDI) or a machine called a nebulizer. MDIs deliver a dosage of medication in aerosol form in just a few breaths. Nebulizers turn liquid medication into a mist that is inhaled, and they must be used for several minutes at a time. These treatments should stop an asthma attack within a few minutes, although they also causes little ones to become hyper. Albuterol is the most common of the quick-reliever medications.

Preventive Medications

• Corticosteroids in oral form are the other type of medication used to treat babies with asthma. They're given to prevent, rather than relieve, symptoms. Preventive medications are typically not used if the condition is mild. They must be taken every day, regardless of whether symptoms are present. It takes a month or so for them to become effective. Corticosteroids are a type of steroid that works by preventing inflammation of the bronchi, which in turn decreases asthma attacks as well as symptoms like wheezing. With oral corticosteroids, fast-acting relief medications should need to be used less often.

Eliminating Triggers

• If the asthma is related to allergens, eliminating triggers from the environment can help prevent symptoms. This often means not having pets or at least keeping them in a non-carpeted area of the home that's away from the baby. Dust mites are another common trigger. They can be minimized by frequently cleaning the home, and washing all linens and stuffed toys in hot water. Make sure that the baby's mattress is a model that's made to minimize allergens and, if possible, get rid of carpeting. Keep baby away from cigarette smoke.

Doctor Visits

• Babies who have asthma should be scheduled for regular doctor visits. Types of medication and dosage amounts may need to be adjusted multiple times to find the best fit. It's important for the doctor to be able to monitor progress, because the ideal treatment regimen will be different over time. Babies grow and change quickly, and so can their asthma symptoms, becoming more or less severe as they get older. It's also not uncommon for symptoms to change dramatically with the seasons.

Education

• Parents must learn how to recognize and manage their infant's asthma symptoms. This is another thing that your doctor can help you with. It's important to know what to look for when monitoring the baby's breathing patterns, so that medications are given at the right times. Infants, and even toddlers, can't tell anyone that they need treatment. Additionally, parents need to know the guidelines for when they should make a doctor appointment or go to an emergency room.