Asthma In Babies And Toddlers

In childhood asthma the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to certain triggers such as inhaling pollen or catching a cold or other respiratory infection.

Asthma in babies and toddlers.

Emotions such as crying yelling and laughing or some strong reactions and stress can also trigger wheezing or coughing in babies. Many babies toddlers and preschoolers are treated for asthma by their pediatrician. Signs and symptoms of asthma in children include. About 16 of black children and 7 of white children have asthma.

If your child ever develops a viral respiratory infection be sure to look for signs of asthma. The first signs of asthma in your baby may be triggered by a respiratory infection. Over a lifetime it can cause permanent lung damage. Childhood asthma can cause bothersome daily symptoms that interfere with play sports school and sleep.

Signs of asthma in children can include. A cough that doesn t go away which may be the only symptom coughing spells that happen often especially during play or exercise at night in cold air or while laughing or. A cough that gets worse after a viral infection less energy during. However if their asthma symptoms are not under control within three to six months or if symptoms are severe and persistent or if the asthma episodes require emergency treatment it may be time to see an asthma specialist.

Infants are usually treated with medication given by a nebulizer or with an inhaler using a spacer with a mask. In infants and toddlers it may be hard for parents and even doctors to recognize symptoms are due to asthma. Diagnosing and managing asthma in children under age 5 can be difficult. While we don t know what causes asthma we do know how to prevent asthma attacks or at least make them less severe.

Asthma in toddlers often occurs due to the inflammation in the lungs and airways when they are exposed to triggers like airborne pollen or air pollution. In infants and young children the primary symptoms of asthma wheezing and coughing may be caused by other conditions. Also standard diagnostic tests used to measure how well someone is breathing cannot be used easily or accurately with children under age 5. Medicines used to treat asthma symptoms in infants and toddlers are usually given in inhaled forms.

Rapid or difficult breathing may show as exaggerated belly movement or flaring nostrils getting out of breath easily especially when playing chest tightness a young child may simply say their chest hurts or feels funny wheezing or whistling sound when.