Blog Post

Children have a faster breathing rate than men (as do women), and they laugh about 300 times a day, which gives them a boost to their immune system.

Unfortunately, over 4.5 million children also deal with asthma, a respiratory illness that affects their ability to breathe. If you’re one of the millions of parents coping with an asthmatic child, you can help them manage the condition and deal with it as they get older.

Parents of children in the Houston and Spring, Texas, areas looking for ways to deal with their child’s asthma can find help with our experienced staff at Houston Medical ER.

Facts about childhood asthma

Also known as pediatric asthma, this lung disease causes inflammation in children’s airways, making breathing more difficult and leading to such issues as:

• Persistent cough
• Less energy
• Chest pain or tightness
• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Fatigue

Many factors can trigger your child’s asthma, such as allergic reactions, respiratory infections, chemical irritants, and stress.

Also increasing your child’s risk of asthma are the following:

• Eczema
• Nasal allergies
• Family history
• Low birth weight
• Secondhand smoke exposure prior to or just after birth
• Living in a low income environment
• Being of Puerto Rican or African American descent

Possible complications

When your child has an asthma attack (or asthma exacerbation), the symptoms may get worse and the effects can be life-threatening. Seek emergency medical care as soon as possible if an attack has your child dealing with:

• A severe cough
• Rapid worsening of issues like wheezing
• Short or rapid breath
• Problems speaking
• Turning pale or bluish

If you don’t manage your child’s asthma well when they’re young, it can lead to more severe issues with attacks, frequent emergency trips to the hospital, and permanent lung damage.

How to help your child cope with asthma

Here’s what you can do to reduce the impact of asthma on your child:

Reduce the triggers in their environment

One of the easier ways to reduce asthma issues is to remove or clean the items around or outside the house that may trigger it. This can include allergens like pet dander, mold, dust, and outdoor allergens during the spring, summer and fall months.

Stay informed about treatment changes

When trying to get the condition under control, we may recommend different treatments. We explain your child’s treatment plan; keep track of your child’s medications and any lifestyle changes.

Keep records

To inform us about what your child is going through, keep a list of symptoms they have, items you know are likely to trigger a response, and other medications that may interact with our treatment options.

Keep everyone in the loop

If you’re letting someone else babysit, going to day care, visiting friends and family, or having people over, you should have an idea of who needs to be aware of your child’s condition and how to manage their needs.

Asthma is a respiratory problem that can get complicated without proper care, but you can help your child through it, and we can help you. For treatment of childhood asthma and other problems, make an appointment with our team at Houston Medical ER today or stop in.