Asthma In Toddlers: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Asthma is a disease caused due to the inflammation of lungs and bronchial airways. It can affect one’s ability to breathe normally. This condition can be found in any age.

However, spotting asthma in toddler can be very tricky. Understanding its causes, symptoms and treatment can help you prevent or immediately treat this condition.

What Causes Asthma In Toddlers?

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases found in children. If your toddler too suffers from it, try and arrest the problem by knowing about it well.

Here are few causes that might result into asthma:  

• Your toddler may get asthma, if your family medical history suggests so.
• Allergic conditions like eczema can also cause it.
• If your toddler lives with a smoker around.
• If your toddler lives in an extremely polluted area.
• If your toddler is exposed to smoke during pregnancy.
• If your toddler suffers from low weight at birth.
• Obesity is also one of the causes.

Asthma Attack In Toddlers:

Asthma attacks can be scary and dangerous too. Any acute asthma patient can experience these attacks.

• This largely happens when the airways get flared up and start producing more mucus.
• This makes the muscles around airways tighten, narrowing breathing tubes, which ultimately make breathing extremely tough.
• Asthma attacks must be prevented in every way and you must seek immediate help at the closest emergency center.
• Medicines advised by doctors generally help open up the breathing tubes and bring relief.
• Quick relievers and inhalers are often used to control asthma attacks.

Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma In Toddlers:

Here are a few symptoms that you may look for in your toddler to know if he suffers from asthma:

1. Persistent cough
2. Constant whistling sound while breathing
3. Lingering cold
4. Shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing that restricts activities
5. Congestion in chest
6. Pain in the chest
7. Tiredness, mainly caused due to improper sleep

Please note that these symptoms vary majorly from one toddler to another. These can also get worse or improve with time. If you find your toddler constantly complain of the above symptoms, seek your doctor’s help as soon as you can.

How To Diagnose Asthma In Toddlers?

As mentioned earlier, diagnosing asthma in toddlers can be very tricky. Here are a few ways your doctor might use to diagnose asthma.

• Frequency and time duration of symptoms
• A test to check lung’s functionality
• Skin allergy test

Many a times, doctors even prefer to wait and see if the symptoms subdue with time. Certain medications may also be given to check if they bring some relief. This is largely done because the long term effects of asthma medicines on young toddlers are yet to be known.

Treatment:

Thankfully, asthma in toddlers can be cured. Your first and foremost priority should be to find out what triggers asthma in your toddler.

You must also prevent asthma attacks in every way. Once you know the triggers, you must consult your doctor and find out ways to prevent the triggers in everyday life.

Apart from these your doctor may recommend:

• A quick reliever that is only to be used during asthma attacks. This merely opens up the otherwise flared air tubes.
• Many a times, doctors also recommend a liquid that your toddler needs to swallow.
• Breathing through mask.
• Immunotherapy is recommended for toddlers suffering from allergic asthma.
• A medicine used as a preventive measure which needs to be consumed on a daily basis. This is to prevent air tubes from getting inflamed.
• Nebulizer, which is used instead of an inhaler, since toddlers find it difficult to use inhaler.

You Must:

Take care of the following to prevent or control cases of asthma in your toddler:

• Keep the house clean of dust and allergens.
• Keep your toddler away from allergens and triggers.
• Notice your toddler’s other triggers like cold, cat allergy, pollution, smoke or any other allergen and keep him absolutely away.

Asthma can be downright frightening for both you and your toddler. It is crucial for you to offer best support and help to steer your toddler clear of asthma. You must realize the importance of patience and long-term planning to cope up with this crisis and help your child.

As your toddler grows up, the asthma conditions might go away. This may happen due to various reasons, one of which is bigger air passages after growing up. So don’t give up hope. Visit your doctor regularly and keep a serious and close tab on your toddler.

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Article written by Akruti