Asthma can be triggered by a variety of things, including exposure to pollen, dust, feathers, molds, animal dander, pollution, cigarette smoke, or cold dry air, as well as an upper respiratory infection, exercise, excitement, and stress. Sometimes a child will develop an asthma attack for no apparent reason.

A child experiencing an asthma attack will cough, wheeze, have an increased respiratory rate, have a feeling of tightness in her chest, and have difficulty breathing. Early signs of an asthma attack include an itchy throat, a change in breathing pattern, fatigue, paleness, nervousness, a runny nose, or moodiness. It is important to watch your child carefully and treat her quickly if you notice an asthma attack coming on. If you have any doubts as to your child's breathing, don't hesitate to call your doctor.

If your child suffers from asthma, one simple way you can monitor her breathing is with an instrument called a peak flow meter, available at many large drug stores and through medical supply catalogs. These are relatively inexpensive, simple-to-use devices that measure how much airpressure your child can exert with a full exhalation. The meter's indicator can be used to compare how your child's air flow changes from day to day. By monitoring this way, you will have a more reliable means of determining whether your child's condition is getting better or worse. Your physician will help you determine what to watch for with your child.

Conventional Treatment For chronic asthma, steroids are currently the conventional treatment of choice. These medicines work by decreasing the swelling and inflammation of the airways. They can be taken orally or inhaled. Inhaled steroids (including Beclovent, Vanceril, AeroBid, and Azmacort) are more commonly used; oral steroids (such as Pediapred) are generally used only in more severe cases. All steroids potentially have significant side effects, especially when taken over the long term, that need to be understood. Talk this over with your doctor or nurse.

Emergency Treatment for Asthma In the event of a severe asthma attack, you need to seek immediate medical care for your child. If your child's asthma is not resolving using the treatments you know, call your physician and take your child to the emergency room. At the hospital, your child will probably be given an inhaled medication that sprays a bronchodilator (a substance that opens air passages to restore free breathing) directly into the airways. If this does not help, she may receive other drugs, such as intravenous steroids or theophyl-line, and may need to be hospitalized. In some cases a child will need to receive oxygen to ease the work of breathing. (Excerpted from Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child ISBN: 1583331395) CONTINUED    1  2  3  4  5  Next      Comments  Add your comment    About The Author JANET ZAND, O.M.D., L.Ac. is a nationally respected author, lecturer, practitioner and herbal products formulator whose work has helped thousands of people achieve better health....more   Related Articles & Links on Asthma on Childhood Asthma on Children's Health on Respiratory System Herbal Medicine Health Conditions Center Healthy Child Center Herbal Medicine Center by Janet Zand     From Our Friends     Popular Related Articles/Areas 1International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy 2Essiac 3Step One of Intuitive Healing: Notice Your Beliefs 4What To Do When You Can't Lose the Weight 5Mumps 6Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs for Chronic Fatigue 7Vitamins and Metabolites Against Cancer: Even more Good News 8Osteoporosis 9Is Dairy Dangerous? 10Wild Carrot   Popular & Related Products ZENMED Skin Repair System Employee Wellbeing Whole Person Wellbeing Wellness Workbook Lab Tests Women's Health Consumer Direct Labs Services   Popular & Featured Events 2019 National Wellness Conference      October 1-3, 2019      Kissimmee, FL USA   Additional Calendar Links   Dimensions of Wellness