Baby Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a very serious breathing condition that some babies develop early in life. The exact cause is unknown, but many people believe that there are certain triggers such as genetics, pollution, and physical impairments that may cause a baby to experience asthma symptoms. Asthma is very distressing for both the baby and the parents. Parents may become very alarmed when they see their infant struggling to breathe. Children and babies have a much smaller airway than an adult, so the symptoms can be more severe.

Spasms

• Spasms can occur the airways become irritated. The airway becomes tighter making it difficult to breathe. An attack can last for several minutes to hours, and a severe attack may require medical attention. When a child has a severe asthma attack, they may begin to panic or even go into shock because there is not enough air getting through.

Gasping

• Babies may gasp for air as they struggle to breathe due to the tightness in their chest. Struggling to breathe causes the child to work hard to get all the air they can into a much smaller constricted airway. Gasping can last for a few seconds or several minutes. The best thing to do when a child is gasping is to keep him or her calm.

Wheezing

• Wheezing is a sound that is produced from difficult breathing. The child may wheeze as he or she breathes because only a small amount of air is getting through. Wheezing is similar to gasping, but at a slower pace. The sound of wheezing is similar to the sound of whistling in the lung area each time your baby inhales or exhales.

Coughing

• A mild asthma symptom is coughing. Coughing results from airways that are constricted and irritated, similar to the common cold. The cough produced is a dry raspy cough. Some other things that can trigger asthma in babies is allergens from animal dander, cockroach allergens, mold, chemicals, dust mites or even feathers.

Chest Tightness

• When less air is able to get to the lungs, a small baby may experience chest tightness. As he or she struggles to breathe, the chest will become very tight from breathing efforts. A vapor rub may help to loosen up any phlegm or mucus in the chest and make breathing easier.

Treatments for Infant Asthma

• There are many things you can do to help your child cope with asthma symptoms. If the symptoms are severe, medication may be needed to keep your child from having a serious attack. Babies often receive a metered dose inhaler (MDI) to treat their asthma. In the past, inhalers where equipped with a medication called Albuterol Sulfate HFA, until a safer option called Hydrofluronalkane was found to be more effective with babies.

  Some babies with asthma are deficient in certain vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Maganese, and Selenium. Find vitamins made specifically for infants in addition to probiotics. Children with asthma also have low levels of gastric hydrochloric acid, making digestion more difficult. Healthy flora can combat this problem by improving digestion. Breast milk contains flora in addition to other vitamins. Children who are breastfed have a much lower incidence of asthma and allergies.

  Consider removing carpeting and switching to tile or wood floors. Carpet breeds germs and other asthma triggers. Some children with asthma will also have eczema as well. Choose organic cotton clothing and sheets, and stay away from harsh soaps.