Video: What Happens After Being Diagnosed With Asthma
Transcript of âWhat happens after being diagnosed with asthma?â
0:00 It can be really scary to be told you have asthma and itâs natural to worry about how it might affect your life. The
0:08 good news is that thereâs lots of support out there to help you manage the condition and to help you to stay well.
0:15 You may wonder if your asthma can be cured. Well, even though we donât have a cure for asthma at the moment, thereâs so much we can do with the right medicines,
0:25 the right treatments, the right advice and support to help you stay well, so that the asthma wonât affect your life,
0:31 whether it be work or your play. You might find that when youâre just diagnosed with asthma it takes a little
0:38 bit of time to get your medicines just right so that you are living without symptoms every day. Be patient, hang on in there.
0:47 The most important thing is to develop a really good relationship with your doctor or nurse. With them you can draw up an asthma action plan, which you can
0:56 download from our website. Thatâll really help you to manage your asthma well, and we know that youâre four times less likely to need to go to hospital if
1:04 youâve got one of these. So, if you have just been diagnosed with asthma, try and stay positive. Thereâs so much you can do to stay well. You can visit our website,
1:14 or phone one of our friendly asthma nurse specialists, or even join a forum. Remember that weâre here to help.
Can A Child Outgrow Asthma
Once someone gets sensitive airways, they stay that way for life. This is the case even though asthma symptoms can change over the years. As a child gets older, they may be able to handle airway inflammation and irritants better, so their symptoms may get better. About half of those children get asthma symptoms again when they are in their late 30s or early 40s. There is no way to know which children may have reduced symptoms as they get older. New triggers may set off symptoms at any time in people who have asthma. If your child has asthma, keep quick-relief medicines and their Asthma Action Plan on hand , even if symptoms dont happen often.
Medical Review September 2015.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed In Infants And Toddlers
It is hard to diagnose asthma in infants and toddlers. Since they are not able to talk well, they cannot describe how they are feeling. A fussy baby could mean many things. Toddlers and preschoolers are often active, even with chest tightness or trouble breathing.Parents should give the following information to their childs doctor:
- Family history of asthma or allergies
- The childs behavior
- Breathing symptom patterns
- Potential triggers and responses to foods or possible allergy triggers
Lung function tests often used to make a complete asthma diagnosis are hard to do with young children. Instead, the doctor may see how the child responds to medications to improve breathing. The doctor may order blood tests, allergy testing and X-rays to get more information.Using this information, the doctor can make the best diagnosis. Parents may need to take their child to a pediatric allergist or pulmonologist for special testing or treatment.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma In Children
Signs and symptoms of asthma in children include:
- Frequent coughing spells, which may occur while the child is playing, laughing, or at night or right after waking. Coughing may be the only symptom.
- Less energy during play.
- Complaint of chest tightness or the chest “hurting.”
- Whistling sound when the child is breathing in or out.
- Retractions in the chest from difficulty breathing.
- Shortness of breath or loss of breath.
- Tightened neck and chest muscles.
- Feelings of weakness or tiredness.
Not all children have the same asthma symptoms. Symptoms can vary from episode to episode in the same child. In addition, not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma.
If your child has problems breathing, take him or her to the pediatrician for an evaluation. Your child may be referred to a specialist, such as a pediatric pulmonary provider or a pediatric allergist.
How Serious Is Asthma
Tragically, three people die every day because of asthma attacks and research shows that two thirds of asthma deaths are preventable.
The reassuring fact is that most people with asthma who get the right treatment – and take it correctly – can manage their symptoms and get on with what they want to do in life.
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Why Do Asthma Symptoms Disappear For Some Kids And Not Others
Some working theories:
- As a child gets bigger, so do the airways in their lungs. Inflammation of airways, an asthma hallmark, could go on unnoticed, Johnson says.
- Children who wheeze only when they have a cold or other upper respiratory virus tend to improve with time, he says.
- Children who are sensitive to allergens from a young age tend not to improve, Rachelefsky says. His observation is backed up by findings from a nine-year study of more than 1,000 asthmatic children that found fewer allergy-related antibodies in those who became symptom-free.
- Children with eczema, a skin disorder characterized by itchy rash, or a family history of asthma are likelier to have lasting asthma symptoms.
- The more severe the asthma past the age of 5, the likelier symptoms will continue, with or without allergies, Rachelefsky says.
Half Of Kids With Severe Asthma May Grow Out Of It
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Childrenâs
Fully half of children and adolescents being treated for severe asthma will improve over a three-year period, according to a new 11-institution longitudinal study of children and teens ages 6 to 17 being treated for severe asthma. This major finding provides evidence for the idea that some of these patients can outgrow their severe asthma while on proper treatment.
It is good news, says Kristie Ross, MD, Division Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology at UH Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital and lead author of the study.
Many children who have severe asthma during earlier childhood seem to improve during adolescence, she says. We know these patients did well even though their level of controller therapies decreased over time. Its reassuring to know that decreasing the dose of controller medicines can be safely done with close monitoring.
Although severe asthma affects approximately 4 percent to 5 percent of children with asthma, it accounts for a disproportionate fraction of the morbidity, mortality and cost of asthma.
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Will They Grow Out Of It
The natural history of asthma also varies from one child to the next. Symptoms may begin at any age, may persist or stop, and then may recur many years later. The majority of young adults with asthma have had recurrent wheeze in their preschool years. However, in a large longitudinal Australian study, two thirds of children with mild intermittent asthma did not have asthma symptoms during adulthood.
Those with more persistent or severe asthma in childhood, or those who also have hayfever, are less likely to grow out of their asthma. There is also a risk that those with asthma during childhood will have a resurgence of their symptoms during adulthood and are more at risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in later life.
Young children under the age of five present a diagnostic dilemma. Wheeze is a common symptom with respiratory viral infections for infants and toddlers. They are unable to perform lung function tests because they cannot breath in the way the test requires, which can help with diagnosis of asthma in older children. Some doctors call this viral-induced wheezing, while others call it intermittent asthma which unsurprisingly leads to confusion.
Can The Course Of Asthma Be Altered In Children
Experts are of the opinion that intervention may not always help change the course of asthma. However, the medicines that can alter asthma symptoms have become safe to take. These medicines are effective in neutralizing symptoms indefinitely in people who have come under the attack of asthma. If asthma is not controlled, a person can expect to make multiple emergency room visits, children may be forced to be absent from school, and may also miss out on a host of opportunities in life.
The primary aim of asthma treatment is to contain the disease, thereby allowing a child to enjoy life without having to worry about what tomorrow may hold. Treatment may also go a long way in preventing the natural history of asthma. Therefore, parents should focus on getting the right diagnosis and treatment for their children.
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Can Children In Asthma Remission Suffer From Respiratory Problems Later In Life
A child suffering from asthma could be more susceptible to breathing problems when down with a cold as compared to adults. Therefore, experts believe that patients should understand what uncontrolled asthma is. This will ensure that they get the right treatment later on in life. Living a life of ignorance will not help the cause. Being aware of uncontrolled asthma will help patients counter in.
When To See A Gp
See a GP if you think you or your child may have asthma.
Several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and correct treatment.
The GP will usually be able to diagnose asthma by asking about symptoms and carrying out some simple tests.
Find out more about how asthma is diagnosed.
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Do Children Outgrow Asthma
No. Asthma is a lifelong disease. Some children may have fewer symptoms in their teens but they still have asthma.
The pattern of wheezing seen in young children can make this issue confusing. About two-thirds of children who wheeze when they have a cold do not have wheezing after age six. Many of these children may be initially diagnosed with asthma. This does not mean they “outgrew” their asthma–it usually means that they probably didn’t have asthma in the first place.
If your child has symptoms , it is important to talk with your child’s doctor. If your child has asthma, your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan so your child can lead a healthy, active life.
How Do I Know If My Child Really Does Have Asthma
A doctor’s work-up will start with a medical history including symptoms and family history. A physical exam will also be done. Pulmonary function testing with spirometry can provide information about lung function and severity of the asthma. A chest X-ray may be ordered to help visualize the lungs. Allergy testing can be done to determine if allergies play a role in symptoms. Additional tests may be done to investigate other causes of symptoms.
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Can You Outgrow Asthma
Those who have asthma are aware that the condition is incurable. However, there may be stretches of times where asthma attacks and other symptoms dont flare up. While these are nice periods of relief, this doesnt mean your asthma has disappeared. Instead, going months between episodes is a testament to your asthma management plan. Avoiding asthmatic triggers, taking your medication or a combination of the two is working well for you.
You may have heard of instances where children with asthmatic symptoms seemingly stop experiencing their symptoms, out of the blue. The children dont report any further breathing difficulties and go on with their lives. Is there some reality to this or is it just a myth? It is possible to outgrow your asthma? If so, how? Does everyone outgrow their asthma or is it just certain people? Why?
In this article, well answer all those questions and more.
Continue Learning About Asthma & Children
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
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What Can I Do To Reduce Asthma Symptoms
- Learn your childs triggers.
- Allergens like dust mites, pets, pests, molds and pollen can play a role in some childrens asthma. Discuss with your health care provider whether an evaluation by an allergist may be helpful.
- Follow your asthma management plan and give the medicines prescribed by your childs doctor.
- Avoid smoking near your child.
Can You Grow Out Of Asthma
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is complicated. It’s yes, but also, no.
The first thing to consider here is your age. Outgrowing ones asthma depends on your age. A patient experiencing asthma symptoms from a young age has equal chances of having a normal wheezing and viral respiratory condition or full-blown asthma.
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Can Children Outgrow Asthma And/or Allergies
Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness. While some children have asthmatic symptoms that clear up over the course of their adolescence, others have symptoms that worsen. The tendency to have overly sensitive airways usually remains. There is no way, unfortunately, to predict a childs future with asthma.
For allergies, it is erroneous to believe children outgrow them as they would a pair of shoes. However, allergies may improve over the course of time, especially during puberty.
Asthma Management Minimizing Your Risk Of An Attack
While this may seem obvious, the best way to minimize the risk is to follow medications as soon as your start having the symptoms.
There may be times when you think you have outgrown asthma, so you no longer take medicines. It is important to act the second you experience symptoms if you want to control them. It is also recommended to attend your annual health review to keep your healthcare provider up to date with your condition and overall health. Doing so will minimize the risk of asthma attacks and allow you to adjust medications as needed.
Apart from the medication and checkup, another thing that you can do is identify your triggers. For this, observe your condition and detect what triggers your asthma. It can be anything from simple household dust or mold and weather conditions to infections and things like stress and alcohol. Once you determine, avoiding them will control your asthma considerably.
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Preparing For Your Childs Visit To Your Healthcare Provider
During your appointment, your healthcare providerwill conduct a physical exam and may order some tests, like x-ray, blood tests, allergy skin tests, and pulmonary function tests .
The physician will take a detailed history of:
- Family allergy/asthma, with emphasis on parents
- Childs allergy history e.g. eczema
- Childs history of illness to date e.g. frequency of colds
- Childs symptoms: Severity, frequency and duration of symptoms. What brings an end to the symptoms for example if the child has a cold, do the symptoms disappear when the cold is over?
- Childs triggers: what have the parents observed with respect to exposures to allergens or irritants, such as smoke, perfume, infection or emotions
This information will help your healthcare provider understand your childs pattern of symptoms.
Asthma Test To Predict Which Children Will Grow Out Of It Steps Closer
New US-led research has brought closer the day when a genetic test can predict whether children with asthma are likely to grow out of it by the time they become adults.
The study, led by researchers from Duke University in North Carolina, is published in the 28 June online issue of The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
About half of children with asthma grow out of it by the time they reach their teen or adult years. But at present there are no tests that can predict which children will never grow out of the disease and which will.
For this latest study, the researchers looked at the results of a huge genetic study of asthma, drafted a profile of asthma risk genes and tested it against a leading asthma research database of individuals that have been followed from birth to their 30s.
They looked at the asthma-specific health information and made comparisons among those individuals who developed asthma , and those who did not, and among the former, who still had the disease in adulthood.
The huge study from which they constructed the genetic profile of asthma risk was from the GABRIEL Consortium, the largest-ever genome-wide association study of asthma, which included more than 26,000 participants.
For their analysis the researchers included 880 individuals from the New Zealand cohort.
The results showed that individuals who had the highest genetic risk scores were the ones most likely to develop asthma, and also developed it earlier.
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Why Boys Grow Out Of Asthma Symptoms More Than Girls
While recent studies suggest that boys are more likely to grow out of asthma than girls, experts are of the opinion that there is not enough research to make decisive conclusions about gender as well as the progression of asthma.
Some experts are of the opinion that more girls develop asthma after puberty, while asthma is more common in boys before puberty.
There are some experts who also believe that it is not the case that boys outgrow girl, its just that more girls have asthma.
Some studies also suggest that hormonal differences may be a factor for the higher prevalence of asthma in women.
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