Can You Be Born With Asthma

Asthma Information For Childcare Kinder Or School

To assist;childcare and preschool workers and school teachers in the care of your child with asthma:;

• Tell them that your child has asthma .;
• Provide them with a copy of your childs asthma action plan, including emergency contact details. Make sure you provide an updated plan every year, or if your childs medication changes.The school or childcare centre will require this for enrolment.
• Show staff members how to use the medication devices, such as spacers and puffers.;
• Make sure your child has an up-to-date supply of medication and a spacer at the centre or school.;
• Notify staff if your childs asthma changes.;
• Tell the staff about any concerns you may have.;

Sometimes Asthma Can Cause Long

Airway Remodeling If you have asthma, your airways become inflamed, which causes them to swell and produce extra mucus. Unless youre able to control this inflammation with medication, it can ultimately lead to a permanent narrowing or other structural changes in the lungs bronchial tubes, Dr. Rosenstreich says.

This airway remodeling is irreversible and can affect how well you breathe. Some people may ultimately need to use an assistive device, like an oxygen machine, to breathe.

Its believed that everyone who has asthma experiences airway modeling to some degree, however, severe airway remodeling is rare. When inflammation in the lungs isnt properly controlled by therapy with corticosteroids or bronchodilators, scar tissue can form and the airways are no longer able to open up, even after using an inhaler, Rosenstreich says. It can begin shortly after the onset of asthma, which is why we encourage people to stick to their prescribed therapy.

Anxiety and Depression As with some other chronic diseases, asthma may increase your risk for anxiety and depression. Some research has found that people with asthma are nearly twice as likely to develop depression as those without asthma.

Some research suggests the psychological stress and negative emotions associated with asthma are what put individuals with asthma at higher risk for these mood disorders. Sleep disturbances and inflammatory factors associated with asthma may also contribute.

Asthma Signs & Symptoms

People with asthma experience symptoms due to inflammation in the airways. They might only occur when you encounter an asthma trigger. Common symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of asthma include:

• Persistent or recurring coughing: which often occurs at night or early in the morning, although it can happen at any time. Coughing is a major feature of asthma, especially in children and can sometimes be the only sign of asthma.
• Wheezing: is difficulty breathing accompanied by a whistling sound coming from your airways
• Shortness of breath: gives you the feeling that you cant get enough air into your lungs, and may even find it difficult to eat, sleep or speak
• Chest tightness: an unpleasant sensation of heaviness or pressure in the chest that can make it hard to breathe
• Increased mucus production: is characterized by high levels of thick fluid or phlegm accumulating in your airways
• Difficulty breathing while exercising: having trouble breathing while performing physical activities can be a sign of asthma
• Losing Sleep: Being unable to sleep through the night because of breathing troubles

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She Fails The Medical Tests

To diagnose older children, doctors use lung-function tests. At the doctors office, your child will take a deep breath and then exhale forcefully into a mouthpiece thats connected to a computer. This measures how much;air she can inhale and exhale, as well as how much force she uses. Your doctor may also use a smaller low-tech device called a peak-flow meter that assesses exhalations. These tests dont hurt, but children have to be able to follow instructions in order for the tests to be accurate. Most 6-year-olds are up to it, and some children as young as 4 can be too.

Health-care providers will typically repeat these tests several times, often before and after medication, and compare a childs scores with those of other children who are a similar weight and height. Low scores mean that airways are blocked and help confirm the asthma diagnosis.

Another clue may come from a trial of medication. Doctors prescribe bronchodilators such as albuterol for many breathing problems, even colds. These rescue medications quickly cause your childs airway to expand and let in more air. But they also play a diagnostic role. When a doctor suspects your child has asthma, he may send her home with a rescue medication to see if using it for a few weeks reduces her symptoms. Ultimately, if your child is found to have asthma, you can take comfort in knowing that treatment is very effective and she will be coughing a lot less.

Why Is Asthma Dangerous

Though manageable for many people, asthma can be dangerous. The;Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America;estimates that 10 Americans die each day from the respiratory condition, noting that “many of these deaths are avoidable with proper treatment and care.”

“There is a huge amount of variability in the severity of asthma,” explained Kaza.;”For most patients, it is a manageable chronic disease process. However, in some people, it can be dangerous and unfortunately, has led to death. Biologics, the newest class of medications to help patients with the moderate-severe disease, have been game-changers for many of these patients with more extensive disease.”

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Children With Allergies Can Go On To Develop Asthma

If your child tends to get allergies theyre said to be atopic. Being prone to allergies is usually something that runs in families. And if your child has one allergy theyre more likely to get another one.

For example, children with eczema, and a family history of allergy, are more at risk of developing asthma than other children. ;

GPs and researchers talk about the atopic march, says Dr Andy Whittamore, Asthma UKs in-house GP.;This is when allergies appear in children in a certain order, depending on their age.

Sometimes allergies overlap, and sometimes your child will switch from one allergy to another. A small child with eczema may go on to have a food allergy, and then, as they get older, hay fever, and then asthma.;

Signs And Symptoms Of Childhood Asthma

Not all children have the same asthma symptoms. A child may even have different symptoms from one episode to the next. Signs and symptoms of asthma in children include:

• A cough that doesnât go away
• Coughing spells that happen often, especially during play or exercise, at night, in cold air, or while laughing or crying
• A cough that gets worse after a viral infection
• Less energy during play, and stopping to catch their breath during activities
• Avoiding sports or social activities
• Tight neck and chest muscles
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble eating, or grunting while eating

Your child’s doctor should check out any illness that makes it hard for them to breathe.

Experts sometimes use the terms âreactive airways diseaseâ and âbronchiolitisâ when talking about wheezing with shortness of breath or coughing in infants and toddlers. Tests may not be able to confirm asthma in children younger than 5.

When to get emergency care

A severe asthma attack needs medical care right away. Watch for these signs:

• Stopping in the middle of a sentence to catch a breath
• Using stomach muscles to breathe
• A belly that sinks in under their ribs when they try to get air
• Chest and sides that pull in as they breathe
• Severe wheezing

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Asthma Action Plans For Children

An;asthma;action;planis a clear written summary of;instructions for when;your childs asthma;symptoms change. Everyone with asthma should have a personalised;asthma;action;plan written by their doctor.;

Your childs;asthma;action;plan will tell you:;

• how to recognise when your childs asthma is getting worse or an attack is developing, and the steps you should take to manage it;
• symptoms that are serious, indicating a need for urgent medical help ;
• your childs asthma triggers.;

Make sure you;understand and can;follow the;asthma;action;plan from your doctor.;

How Do You Get Asthma

• Doctors know, however, that asthma can sometimes run in families.
• Asthma attacks can be set off by many different things, these are called triggers. Examples include cold air, vigorous exercise and stress.
• These triggers may also include ‘allergens’. These are present in the environment and contain chemicals that trigger allergic reactions.
• Allergens include, for example, pollen, animal danders, house dust, pollution, some foods, perfumes and cigarette smoke.
• Allergens cause the lining of the airways to become swollen and inflamed. It produces extra mucus and the muscles of the airways tighten. There is then less room for the air to pass in and out.
• Attacks may be more frequent or severe in people who have a chest infection.

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Asthma And Allergies Tend To Run In Families

If theres asthma, eczema, hay fever or other allergies in your family it makes asthma more likely.

If you have asthma yourself, your child is much more likely to have asthma too, particularly if both parents have asthma. Theres slightly more chance of asthma being passed on by the mother than the father.

Why Do People Get Asthma

Research has yet to show a definitive cause of asthma. However, researchers have determined several risk factors that can lead to asthma development.

Family History and Genetics

Children of mothers with asthma are three times more likely to suffer from asthma, and 2.5 times more likely if the father has asthma. More than 30 genes have been linked to asthma so far, and gene-gene interactions, gene-environment interactions and epigenetic modifications also play a part. Genetic differences also play a role in differences in response to treatment.

Allergies

People are more likely to have asthma if they have certain types of allergies, such ones which can affect the eyes and nose. However, not everyone who has allergies will get asthma and not everyone who has asthma is affected by allergies. Respiratory allergies and some types of asthma are related to an antibody called immunoglobulin E , which the immune system produces in response to allergens. To protect the body, the IgE causes allergic reactions that can affect the eyes, nose, throat, lungs and skin.

Premature Birth

Children born before 37 weeks are at increased risk of developing asthma later in life.

Lung Infections

Babies or small children may be at risk of developing asthma later in life if they had certain lung infections at a very early age.

Occupational Exposures

Hormones

Women can develop adult-onset asthma during or after menopause.

Environment Air Quality

Obesity

Also Check: Can Asthma Make You Cough

What Are The Symptoms

Asthma can be different for everyone. Asthma symptoms can also vary over time, with few or no symptoms when asthma is well controlled. The common signs and symptoms of poorly controlled asthma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping because of breathing difficulty
• Being unable to take part in physical activities without breathing difficulty

These symptoms can occur slowly over hours or days, or they can come on as sudden, recurring attacks after which the symptoms can persist for some time before disappearing. If left untreated, asthma can cause permanent structural changes in your airways called airway remodelling, which is why it is important to get your asthma under control and keep treating it over the long term.

Symptoms Of Asthma In Children

Other than the abnormal respiratory rates, there are other symptoms, which can portray a clear picture of the child is suffering from asthma. What are they? Heres a list of the same for your perusal.

• If the child is suffering from frequent coughing during cough and cold.
• If you notice a whistling sound in your childs breaths.
• If the child finds trouble in breathing. Specifically, if he/she faces breathlessness or heavy breathing.
• If the child has chest congestion.
• If the child has difficulty in eating or swallowing.
• If you notice pale blue fingernails.

The above-mentioned are some of the symptoms which can indicate that a child is asthmatic. Here arises a question, can a child be born with Asthma? Well, pregnancy does not gift a child with breathing complexities. However, if a child is born prematurely, or the mother had developed any allergies during her pregnancy, the child born will be at a higher risk for asthma.

Also, if the mother is in a habit of smoking during pregnancy or herself is suffering from asthma, then it can cause asthma to the child born. But does asthma affect the life of a kid, other than the breathing issues? Lets delve a little deeper.

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Do You Need Any Special Tests If You’re Pregnant And Have Asthma

If your asthma is under control and mild, you may not need any special tests. If your asthma is not well controlled or if your asthma is moderate to severe, your provider may recommend repeated ultrasounds to check to make sure your babys growing normally. Ultrasound uses sound waves and a computer screen to show a picture of your baby inside the womb. Your provider may start these at around 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Your provider also may recommend taking your babys heart rate with a fetal heart monitor. This allows him to check on your babys well-being.

Test results can alert your provider if you or your baby needs special care.

How To Reduce Your Risk Of Complications

In general, working with your doctor can help you find the appropriate treatment to control your asthma symptoms and reduce your risk for these complications. And once you find a treatment that works for you, its important to stick with it.

Most people with asthma know the importance of staying on prescribed treatment, Rosenstreich says. Because if they dont, they know theyll see an increase in their symptoms. But your doctor will remind you that symptoms are only the start. These complications are, in most cases, rare and totally avoidable simply by staying with your treatment.

If you have trouble controlling your symptoms despite following your treatment plan, you may have a more severe form of asthma. Let your doctor know about your struggles so he or she can help find a more appropriate treatment.

With additional reporting by Markham Heid.

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How Can Adult Onset Asthma Be Managed

If you manage your asthma, you can expect to lead a normal lifestyle. Basically, there are four key steps to managing asthma successfully:

1.;;;Learn about asthma and stay up-to-date on new developments.

2.;; Take prescribed medications. Dont make any changes until you check with your physician. Dont use over- the-counter medications unless prescribed by your physician!

3.;; Check your lungs daily at home by using a peak flow meter. Asthma patients often can detect lung changes with a peak flow meter before they actually experience any changes. Visit your physician regularly for further in-office tests. Lung testing is painless and provides valuable data that helps your physician make adjustments in your medication.

4. ;; Make an asthma management plan with your physician. A plan establishes guidelines that tell you what to do if your asthma symptoms get worse.

Is It Safe To Take Asthma Medicine During Pregnancy

Asthma symptoms that dont stop or that get worse can be a risk to your and your baby. If you were taking asthma medicine before pregnancy, dont stop taking it without talking to your provider first.

If youre diagnosed with asthma during pregnancy, talk to your provider about the best way to treat or manage it.

If youre already getting allergy shots, you can keep taking them during pregnancy. But if you arent getting allergy shots, dont start taking them when youre pregnant because you could have a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

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What Should You Do If Your Child Has An Asthma Attack

If your child is showing symptoms of an asthma attack:

• Give your child their reliever medicine according to the asthma action plan.
• Wait 15 minutes. If the symptoms go away, your child should be able to resume whatever activity they were doing. If symptoms persist, follow the Asthma Action Plan for further therapy.
• If your child fails to improve, or if you aren’t sure what action to take, call your care provider.

The danger signs of an asthma attack are:

• Severe wheezing.
• Trouble walking and/or talking,
• Blue lips and/or fingernails.

If your child has any of these danger signs/symptoms, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.

Will My Child Outgrow Asthma

Asthma is rarely outgrown it often persists into adulthood. However, some parents see the symptoms of asthma go away as their child grows. This could be the result of the childs lungs growing larger or the immune system adapting over time. However, sensitivity to allergens as an asthma symptom trigger may still remain. And for many, symptoms often reappear years later.

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What Causes Adults To Develop Asthma

At least 30% of adult asthma cases are triggered by allergies. People who are allergic to cats may have an increased risk for developing adult onset asthma. Exposure to allergens or irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, mold, dust, or other substances commonly found in the persons environment might trigger the first asthma symptoms in an adult.

Prolonged exposure to certain workplace materials may set off asthma symptoms in adults.

Hormonal fluctuations in women may play a role in adult onset asthma. Some women first develop asthma symptoms during or after a pregnancy. Women going through menopause can develop asthma symptoms for the first time.

Different illnesses, viruses, or infections can be a factor in adult onset asthma. A bad cold or a bout with the flu is often a factor in adult onset asthma.

Smoking does not cause adult onset asthma; however, if you smoke or if you are exposed to cigarette smoke , it may provoke asthma symptoms.