Post #33 Asthma: A Pedi Perspective - Part 1 of 5

It's difficult to diagnose, can attack without warning, and unfortunately we don't know exactly what causes it.It's said to be the most common chronic medical problem in children, fortunately it's manageable with medication.Asthma is a lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it hard to breathe.While it affects people of all ages, it most often starts in childhood. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, between 80 to 90 percent of people with asthma develop symptoms by the age of 4 or 5.Parents tend to worry at the first sign of a cough or wheeze, but in reality, a one-time episode is not indicative of asthma. That would be like labeling a friend of yours "tardy" just because she showed up late one time.Further coloring the diagnosis of asthma in shades of grey is that children with asthma can present with different symptoms at different times.When to wonderThe most common symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.Coughing is a protective mechanism designed to move mucus through the respiratory track. In a child with or without asthma, coughing can be worse at night because during the day gravity and activity helps mucus drain and clear from the airways; however at night, laying horizontal and the lack of movement allows mucus to pool in the airways thus increasing the coughing bouts.Coughs caused by a virus can last anywhere from two to six weeks or sometimes even longe...
Source: A Pediatrician's Blog - Category: Pediatricians Source Type: blogs