Ensuring your child is safe and healthy is the top priority for any parent. Some conditions are harder to spot than others, and the same goes for asthma. So as part of World Asthma Day, we’re raising awareness so parents can identify the early signs and symptoms of asthma in their children.

What causes asthma?

Although the causes of asthma aren’t completely known, it is thought that it can be a hereditary condition or can be caused by a weakness in the immune system as a result of certain types of airway infections whilst young.

Exposure to certain environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and air pollution are also thought to have an effect.

Other contributing factors can include:

• Being born prematurely
• Being born of a low birth weight
• If the mother smoked during the pregnancy
• If they also suffer from eczema or there is a history of eczema in the family

There are also everyday triggers which parents need to watch out for and these triggers can indicate that your child is suffering from asthma. Some of these triggers include:

• Viral infections such as a cold
• Allergies to pollen or dust mites
• Physical activity
• Weather changes or exposure to cold air

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What are the sign and symptoms?

Understanding what the signs and symptoms of asthma are means that you can identify when your child may be being affected by this condition and therefore ease their discomfort.

Some of the common signs to look out for include:

• Frequent and intermittent coughing
• Congestion in the chest or tightness
• A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing
• Chest pain, particularly prevalent in younger children
• Shortness of breath

Some of the less common symptoms to look out for include:

• Trouble sleeping, or interrupted sleeping caused by a shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing
• Coughing or wheezing that gets worse when your child has a respiratory infection, such as a cold
• Delayed recovery after having a cold or something more serious, such as bronchitis
• Trouble breathing that has an effect on their ability to play
• Sever fatigue caused by poor sleep as a result of coughing and difficulties breathing

What should you do?

If you think your child is suffering from some of these symptoms and is perhaps showing signs of asthma, then it’s important you book an appointment with your doctor to ensure the condition is diagnosed correctly.

It’s likely that your doctor will listen to your child’s chest for any wheezy sounds, ask about the symptoms and triggers that has caused concern and how often they occur, ask questions about your family history, and then run through the necessary tests to confirm diagnosis.

In order to help with this consultation, it might be wise to try and film signs and symptoms that you think are a cause for concern. This is particularly useful if the symptoms are sporadic rather than continuous.

Whilst asthma is a perfectly treatable condition, it can still be a worry. If you have any questions about the condition, the diagnosis process, or treatment, then be sure to speak to your doctor.

Resources:
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/diagnosis/is-it-asthma/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351507 

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