Guide For Parents Of Children With Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory illness wherein the air passage of an individual becomes narrow, and inflamed, and the mucous membrane lining the airway secretes extra mucus. This results in, laborious breathing, shortness of breath, and a whistling sound while exhaling, and may also set off coughing.

Children suffering from asthma cannot deal with asthmatic attacks on their own. No parent would like to see their child facing/suffering from the effects of asthma. Asthma symptoms can be managed and controlled but the parents of the child may not be available to provide immediate assistance at all times. Thus the child and the parent need to know everything about asthma and its treatment to have better control of the respiratory condition. If the child's asthma symptoms are severe immediate medical assistance must be provided. At CMRI the best asthma specialist doctor and pulmonologist in Kolkata check for a detailed history of asthma symptoms in children and based on diagnosis provides an individualized approach for the management of asthma in children.

The expert pediatric pulmonologists guide the parents and their children so that they put themselves on the right path to handle asthma.

Identification and diagnosis of Asthma:

Asthma symptoms may develop before the child attains the age of 5 years. It becomes very difficult to evaluate this condition in such young kids. At the initial stages, asthma symptoms cannot be easily distinguished from any common respiratory infection. With growing age, the symptoms of asthma become more apparent. Some of the emerging signs of asthma include:

• Tightness of the chest or pain
• Persistent shortness of breath
• Cough attacks
• The wheezing sound is heard even if the person is not sick and breathing out.

If any of the signs are felt by the child or observed by the parent, the very first step is to visit an asthma and allergy specialist so that the child gets the best possible care.

 

Management of Child’s asthma:

Both parent and the child can feel secure if they have an asthma action plan (stepwise directions or instructions) already created by their doctor to deal with future incidents. Asthma can be managed by avoiding the triggers that might worsen the symptoms of asthma and by taking prescribed medications. By following the plan prescribed by the children's asthma doctor, the parent can know how to take care of the child.

 

• Recognize and avoid triggers of asthma: Triggers could be anything that could cause irritation of the airway and result in asthma attacks. The common triggers include certain airborne allergens like mold and pollen; viral infections such as the common cold, changes in weather, or sudden startled physical activity. Both the child and the parents should learn about how these triggers can flare up asthma so that they can avoid them and also help a child get prompt treatment.

 

• Intake of prescribed medication: The child may be given a single daily medication (a once-a-day pill) to keep asthma in control for the long term. This can prevent the airways from getting closed, tightened, or irritated by any allergen. Another way would be to provide a quick-relief medicine for asthma during its attack or breathing emergency so that the airways remain clear and open. This includes the use of an inhaler or a nebulizer to allow the medicines to reach the lungs. The doctor instructs the parents about the medications to be given, their dosage, and the way to use the inhaler.

 

• Ensure that the child gets a yearly flu vaccine: This is recommended for every child especially asthma patients to avoid serious illnesses by taking care of their immune system and avoiding the triggers.

 

• Use asthma tools when necessary: The patient and the parent can predict flare-ups by keeping a track record in their asthma diary of the timing of symptoms, medications required, and other important information. This will make the child aware of the warning signs of asthma they usually have and also help the specialists know how well the treatment is working for the child. A peak flow meter can also be used by the child to measure lung efficiency.  

 

• Prepare for emergency: A severe flare-up of asthma can happen at any time. The guardians must listen to the child’s warning signs of asthma flare-ups and watch if the symptoms are increasing at a rapid rate. A quick-relief medicine and the contact information of the pediatric pulmonologist should always be handy in emergency asthma attacks. Not only parents but every person (including teachers, school staff, and relatives) who cares about the child should also be aware and they must know how to manage the situation in case the child suffers from extreme flare-ups. The teachers must be informed by the parents if their child suffers from asthma or other condition.

For more information about asthma treatment in Kolkata contact the best team of doctors at CMRI to allow your child to have a completely normal lifestyle