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Asthma and more ::
asthma and childhood
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Facts about asthma and childhood...symptoms and asthma types
Asthma occurs mostly between ages 3 and 8 in children. Pediactric asthma can be a chronic illness for many patients. The signs and symptoms of asthma are familiar enough for anyone who has been a patient or seen one -- short breath, wheezing, a chough caused by obstructions in the respiratory system. There may be frequent bouts of attacks. When we breathe in, the air that is inhaled is filtered, humidified and warmed as it reaches the bronchi of the lungs and further into the bronchioles and alveoli. An asthma attack is triggered when these air passages secrete excess mucous, swell and narrow. You may hear a whistling sound (wheezing) during both inhalation and exhalation when there's an attack. This sound is usually more severe during exhalation. In extreme cases, airflow may cease entirely, which is a very dangerous condition. The child may also have an associated chough that tends to get worse at night or early morning. When asthma is triggered by exercise, a chough may be it's only symptom. Exercise related asthma also tends to produce tightness and pain in the chest region. Your child may be having an asthma attack if he or she is experiencing breathlessness or rapid, shallow breathing. The nostrils may flare when breathing in and you may notice that her talking has been suddenly interrupted. As you can see, asthma and childhood can easily cause serious problems. There are various types of asthma attacks in children with varying degrees of severity. Here's a brief description of asthma signs and symptoms involved in each. Mild attacks: Children may feel breathless during a mild attack. After a small degree of physical exertion like walking, they may experience a feeling of restlessness. Sometimes, you may not even notice the symptoms. Moderate attacks: You may notice that the child becomes breathless while talking. If it's a baby, her cries may become softer or she may feed in lower quantities than normal. Relentless episodes: If you notice that your child can't speak in sentences and instead speaks single words only, she may be having a relentless asthma attack. She may feel out of breath even while resting. Small babies may stop feeding or become very restless while feeding. Severe attacks: Infants may stop feeding altogether, children may feel confused and / or sleepy, or may stop breathing. This is a dangerous condition and needs immediate medical attention. The severity of the attack your child faces will determine the kind of treatment involved. In every case, make sure that your child gets medical attention at the earliest. Asthma and childhood can be a very stressful combination.
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