At Bernstein Allergy Group in Cincinnati, many parents want to know if their child will outgrow their asthma condition. First, it is important to understand what asthma is, what causes it and how it is treated. Asthma is diagnosed in 3 million individuals each year, and it primarily begins during childhood. Some children have mild cases of asthma with breathing attacks that only occur occasionally while other children have severe asthma with multiple breathing attacks each day. The symptoms from asthma include:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Respiratory difficulties
A severe asthma attack is dangerous, leading to respiratory problems that require emergency treatment. Having asthma can make life difficult for a child and the child’s parents. Children can have respiratory issues at any time of the day or night, and a young child will not understand the signs of an impending asthma attack. While older children will notice the early signs of an asthma attack, they may not understand how to use an inhaler that contains vital medication.
What Triggers Asthma Attacks?
Researchers know that there are allergens that can trigger asthma attacks, including:
- Pollen
- Insect waste
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Fragrances
Each individual with asthma has different triggers, and these triggers can change. Keeping the environment clean with vacuuming, mopping and dusting can remove many allergens, and a parent can install an air purification system like HEPA filters to remove allergens from the home.
Children with Severe Asthma Seldom Have a Remission
Parents often ask if remission from asthma is possible. Some children develop resistance to triggers or allergens, leading to fewer respiratory problems, but the condition may return later, especially if the child is ill with a cold or influenza. If your child has severe asthma, then he or she is less likely to outgrow the condition. It is important to understand how to prevent asthma attacks along with treating an asthma attack right away so that a child’s lungs and bronchial tubes aren’t damaged.
How Can You Prevent Asthma Attacks to Protect Your Child?
Some of the things to consider in your home are removing as many items as possible to prevent excess dust or pollen, especially in a child’s bedroom. Rather than having carpeting on the floor, parents can only use washable rugs or leave the floor tiles bare. Instead of having a home that is filled with children’s toys, you can limit the items to things that are washable. You may need to cover the upholstered furniture in a living room, and you may not want to have furry pets such as dogs or cats that leave dander on surfaces. To keep pollen out of a home, you should use climate-control devices year-round rather than leaving the windows open.