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Posts Tagged "Asthma"

10May2024

Recognizing Early Signs of Asthma in Children

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic disorders in children, affecting their health, everyday activities, and quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for managing symptoms and preventing severe asthma episodes. This blog post addresses how to recognize the early signs of asthma in young children, which can be subtle and easy to miss.

Understanding Asthma in Children

Asthma in children is an inflammatory condition of the airways that causes difficulty breathing. While it can occur at any age, many children exhibit symptoms before the age of five. Recognizing these warning signs early can lead to timely intervention, which can dramatically enhance a child’s health results.

Key Early Signs of Asthma

  • Frequent coughing: Coughing, especially at night, can interfere with the child’s ability to sleep soundly. Coughing that intensifies with viral infections or occurs while laughing or crying is a warning sign.
  • Wheezing: Listen for a whistling sound when your child breaths, especially on exhale. Wheezing is a typical indication of asthma. However, not all children who wheeze have asthma, therefore it’s critical to note the frequency and circumstances under which wheezing occurs.
  • Difficulty Breathing: If your kid frequently struggles to breathe or if their breathing becomes faster or more difficult than usual, particularly during strenuous activities or play, this could be an early indicator of asthma.
  • Chest Tightness or Pain: Young children may not be able to verbalize this symptom adequately, although they may say their chest “hurts” or rub it to imply pain.
  • Retractions: Look for symptoms of difficulty breathing, such as the skin sucking in around the ribs or neck during respiration. This is known as retraction, and it signals that the youngster is trying harder to breathe.

When to See a Doctor?

If you observe any of the symptoms listed above, especially if they occur frequently or in patterns (for example, always at night or after playing), you should see a pediatrician. Early diagnosis improves asthma management.

Tips for Parents

  1. Keep a symptom diary. Keeping track of your symptoms can assist your doctor in making an accurate diagnosis. Take note of when the symptoms appeared, how severe they were, and what your child was doing at the time.
  2. Take note of the family history. Asthma can be inherited, so tell your doctor if you have a family history of it.
  3. Be wary of triggers. Common asthma triggers include cold air, exertion, allergens such as pet hair and pollen, and respiratory illnesses.

Early detection of asthma in children can result in better disease management and control, lowering the risk of severe asthma attacks and enhancing overall quality of life. By examining your kid for the main signs and symptoms listed above and contacting with a healthcare expert for a correct diagnosis and management plan, you can help ensure your child lives a healthy, active life despite having asthma.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
19Sep2020

Protecting your Asthmatic Child from Common Chemicals

You may already be working hard to protect your child from common asthma triggers, such as seasonal allergens, tobacco smoke, excessive dust in your home, and the dander from household pets. However, what you may not realize is that some of the most common chemicals that you use for cleaning your home may actually be what is causing your child’s difficult breathing episodes. In particular, disinfectants, many of which are being used heavily during these days of COVID-19, can be particularly problematic for children and even adults who already have chronic respiratory issues. Here is how you can ensure that your house stays clean while keeping your loved ones safe.

Use Products As Directed

Be sure you never mix chemicals and disinfectants, and never use more than is recommended on the bottle.

Find Safe Products

Some chemicals are more apt to cause asthma attacks than others are. Try choosing products certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program, such as those containing hydrogen peroxide or ethyl alcohol. Avoid bleach and ammonia-containing products as well as products with added fragrances.

Improve Household Ventilation While Cleaning

Consider opening doors and windows while cleaning, if possible. You can also turn on exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms. If possible, install a high-efficiency air filter in your HVAC system.

Clean One Area of the House at a Time

By focusing on a single area at a time and ensuring that your child stays in an area that is not being cleaned, you can keep her away from chemical-laden triggers. If she does happen to experience an asthma attack in a recently cleaned area, move her into an area with better ventilation.

You can recognize an asthma flare-up in your child if she suddenly begins taking quick, shallow breaths or starts wheezing or coughing. If your child has an inhaler for use during flare-ups, you should have her use it immediately. If the problem does not resolve quickly, you will need to seek emergency medical care for your child.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
24Mar2020

The Most Common Food Allergies for Children

Food allergies have become more problematic in recent years as increasing numbers of individuals are diagnosed with them. Even children are frequently diagnosed with food allergies, with 1 in 13 children currently having this issue. In addition, almost half of children with food allergies have more than one allergy. As a parent, here are a few helpful tips when it comes to guarding what your child eats.

What Are the Most Common Food Allergies in Children?

Although peanut allergies may be the first problem that pops into your mind when you hear about food allergies, there are actually numerous foods and food groups that can cause problems for the littlest members of your household. The following are the primary concerning foods for children.

  • Milk
  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Eggs
  • Soy

All of these ingredients must be disclosed on food packaging, which can help you in making food choices for your household.

What Symptoms Should Parents Look for with Food Allergies?

You should know that while some children may be genuinely allergic to some foods, others just have a sensitivity to it. While an allergy creates a strong response, such as hives or swelling in the throat that leads to difficulty breathing, a sensitivity will probably only lead to discomfort. Keep an eye out for any of the following distressing signs of an allergic reaction, and consider emergency medical treatment for those that are life-threatening.

  • Itchy skin and hives
  • Red, itchy eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

How Can Food Allergies Be Treated?

In the case of a life-threatening condition, emergency medical personnel may provide an epinephrine shot, which can aid in breathing. Other than emergency circumstances, the best treatment for a food allergy is complete avoidance of the food. However, because your child is not always under your direct supervision, you will need to notify the school and other households where your child spends time about which foods are and are not safe.

Because this is just a basic look at food allergies in children, we recommend that you visit with your child’s pediatrician in more detail if you have any further concerns. Kids 1st Pediatrics is ready to help you with any of your concerns for your children from infancy through the teenage years.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
13Jul2019

Air Quality and Asthma

According to the American Lung Association, asthma is the most common condition that chronically affects children in the U.S. These children often experience flareups, which could occur from nearly anything, including allergens, chemicals, stress, excitement, and exercise. In the summer, one of the most concerning triggers that parents should be aware of is the hot outdoor air.

Factors Affecting Air Quality

Just when parents are finally able to let their children play outside, they may have to tell them to stay inside instead if the forecast is showing a string of particularly hot, sunny days. The reason for this is that the ozone in the air, which is produced by ultraviolet light from the sun, can increase exponentially on these sunniest of days. Those living in urban areas are particularly at risk, but wind can push the excessive levels of ozone nearly anywhere, including into more rural areas that are typically assumed to have clean and healthy air. 

Children who spend much time outdoors during weather like this may find that they have a harder time than normal with breathing, and they may cough much more frequently. However, this weather can be particularly harmful to children with asthma who may be forced to reach for their rescue inhalers or to take a trip to urgent care. This is because the ozone that they breathe in reacts with the tissues deep inside their lungs to create irritating toxins.

Pay Attention to Air Quality Reports

Parents of children with asthma should carefully monitor air quality. They may be able to do this through the newspaper or through a weather app on their smartphones, but they should know that not all poor air quality days make it onto official alerts. Instead, they may want to find a local app using information from the Environmental Protection Agency that will display up-to-the-minute ozone levels. 

In addition, parents will want to make sure that they keep their children inside during the hottest parts of the day, plan most outdoor activities for the morning, have children take plenty of breaks indoors and find plenty of fun activities for the indoors. In addition, they should be sure that they know exactly where their child’s rescue inhaler is and should know how to use it. 

If you are concerned about your child’s breathing or need a new inhaler prescription for your child, schedule an appointment with Kids 1st Pediatrics today.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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