Asthma - Children & Treatment
ASTHMA IN CHILDREN
Though Asthma can be developed at any age, but it is found that
it occurs mostly in childhood. Moreover, it is found that it is
found more in girls than boys. Asthma causes about 1/4th
absentism in schools and around 20 children die due to
uncontrolled Asthma only in Canada every year. So, it is very
important to control Asthma so that your child can lead a normal
and healthy lifestyle.
How do I know my child has Asthma?
If your child is suffering from breathing problem and
uncontrollable continuous coughing then it's the time you take
your child to doctor and get a proper diagnosis done. It's very
likely that your child is suffering from Asthma. Delay could
lead to serious problem and it may even take your child's life.
Is there anything I can do to help my child avoid
Asthma?
As we all know that Asthma has no definite cure and only
preventive measures and proper consultation of doctor can lead
to control of Asthma, you should try and see that you keep your
child away from the triggers that result to Asthma attacks in
your child. You should do the following to save your child and
ensure him a normal and healthy lifestyle. * You should put
extra efforts to keep your child's surroundings clean.
* You should take the child for regular checkups. * You
should ensure that child does not come into the contact of
triggers that lead to Asthma attacks. * You should
educate the child about the preventive measures and teach him
how to help oneself in times of emergency.
How can I help my child avoid Asthma triggers?
You should take preventive measures in accordance with the kind
of triggers that lead to Asthma attacks in your child. Lets have
a look on the kind of triggers and how you can help your child
to fight these Asthma triggers. * Pollen and molds:
If pollen and molds causes Asthma attacks, then you should use
your air conditioners and keep your doors and windows regularly
closed. If you are traveling, then keep the windows of your car
closed. You sholud avoid flowery plants in your nursery.
* Pets: If you are an ardent pet lover, then keep your
pet at separate places and put on masks before you come in
their contact.
* Strong Emotions: Try to avoid strong emotions that
lead to anxiety, if they cause asthma attacks.
* Smoke and dust: Try to keep your environment smoke
and dust free and ensure that you wear masks when you are out.
Avoid working in kitchen.
* Heat burn: If heartburn causes allergy, that leads
to asthma attacks, then avoid moving out in sun and use proper
lotions that prevents sunburns
* Spray in deodorants and perfumes: Avoid using and
coming in contact with perfumes and spray in deodorants, if
they lead to asthma attacks.
* Smelly spices and Food Additives: Cook your food
that is free from additives and try to avoid eating outdoor
food. Avoid going in kitchen and if it is mandatory put a mask.
Try to gather complete knowledge that what kind of food
contains additives and make their intake very less.
How can I tell my child's asthma is serious?
Use a peak flow meter to check how much air flows out of your
child's lung everyday. Your child will have lesser inflow and
outflow of air from lungs, if he is suffering from Asthma.
Measuring of peak flows can help you detect your child's air
flow before he or she has any symptoms of Asthma. The peak flow
meter will also tell, whether or not your child's asthma is
serious and what kind of time to time medication is mandatory
for your child. You will also get to know, when your child needs
emergency care. In addition, it will also help you to find the
triggers that lead to Asthma attacks in your child.
How is a peak flow meter used?
It is very simple to use a peak flow meter. To use a peak flow
meter on your child, go thorough the following steps: *
Primarily move the indicator to the bottom of the numbered
scale.
* Stand up and take a deep breath. * Close the child's
lip around the mouthpiece of the flow meter and ensure that his
or her tongue does not gets inside the mouthpiece. * Ask
the child to blow hard and as fast as possible. The indicator
on the scale moves up. * Note down the number where the
indicator stops. * Ask your child to repeat the above
steps 1-5 times more and then note down the highest number
among them where the indicator has stopped on the peak flow
meter chart.
Your doctor will tell you when to use peak flow meter on your
child and how to record your child's personal best score from
time to time. The personal best score is the highest score that
your child shows in a period of two to three weeks, when the
asthma is under good control. After you come to know, your
child's best score, you should compare the daily peak flow score
with the personal best score.
What to do next after using peak flow meter on your
child?
Once you have recorded your child's personal peak flow score,
your doctor will tell you how to put these scores into different
zones as colors in the traffic light. There are three zones that
tells about the severity of your child's asthma.
Green zone: This zone is the 80%-100% of the personal
best score, which signifies all clear. This means that all there
are no symptoms and your child can use all the medicines as
usual.
Yellow Zone: In this zone, the personal best score lies
between 50%-80% of the personal best score and signifies
caution. Your child may need some extra medication and
preventive measures.
Red Zone: In this zone, the personal best score lies
below 50% of the of the personal best score and signifies
medical alert. You should ask your child to use inhaler
regularly and consult your doctor immediately.
ASTHMA TREATMENT
Proper medication along with preventive measures are required to
treat and control asthma. These can be divided into different
categories as follows:
Reliever Medications: Normally packed in blue and grey
containers these are also known as Beta agonists or
broncobusters. These include salbutamol, fenoterol, and
terbutaline such as Airomir, Ventolin,a nd Bricanyl. As soon as
you inhale them, muscles around the bronichal tubes relax
instantly and makes it easier to breath for a couple of hours.
This is a perfect medicine for people suffering from mild
asthma. * Preventive Medications: Also known as
preventors, they reduce inflammation in airways.The regular use
of preventers reduces the irritability in bronichle tubes that
leads to reduction in inflammation in the tubes. Though
symptoms may start improving within a week or two, but it will
take a couple of months before the inflammation also improves.
If your asthma is well-controlled, you can reduce their intake
with the help of doctor. Preventive medicines are divided into
three groups:
* Non steroid puffers: They include cromogylate,
[Intal] among others. They are very useful in mild asthma and
intial therapy for children. They are best to bloc exercise
related asthma attacks. * Steroid puffers or
Cortisone: Fluticasone, Budesonide, beclomethasone etc lies
under the Steroid puffers category. They are very effective
drugs fro reducing inflammation. These medication leads to side
effects such as husky voice or soar throat. You can minimize
these side effects by using spacer device or gargling with
water. These are adviced to take in small doses after proper
consultation. * Leucotriene antagonists: This is a
new series of medication and one tablet is taken on everyday or
alternate days .Medications like Zafirlukast and montelukast
reduce inflammation of airways by blocking the chemical known
as leucontrienes.
Symptom Controllers
These drugs are taken on daily basis by the patients who are
already on the heavy dose of preventers, this means the people
who are suffering from high asthma. These drugs include
eformoterol and salmaterol. You should never use system
controllers alone to treat asthma attacks.
Combination Drugs
These are the medications that combine asthma preventer along
with a symptom controller. They are available in Australia and
includes drug such as Seretide (Flixotide + Serevent).
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is used to reduce the severity of allergy and is
used only in specific cases of asthma to reduce medication.