World Asthma Day is observed on the first Tuesday of May to raise awareness about asthma, a long-term health condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
Asthma is a disease characterized by an increased sensitivity to inhaled irritants and allergens, causing chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has chosen the theme for this year’s celebrations as “Asthma care for all” to ensure the availability of effective, quality-assured medications to everyone.
Although asthma symptoms in children are not different from adults, kids may face unique challenges that can lead to frequent hospitalizations and missed school days.
Symptoms of childhood asthma
- Whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
- Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, cough or sneeze
- Chest congestion or tightness
- Frequent coughing that worsens with a viral infection, sleep, exercise or cold air
- Fatigue from lack of sleep
- Difficulty in recovering from bronchitis after a respiratory infection
- Difficulty to breath while playing or exercising
Common asthma triggers in children
The most effective way to manage asthma is to avoid the triggers. It is important to understand the triggers as they might be different for each child and might vary with seasons. Some children grow out of certain triggers that affected them at younger ages.
Maintaining a diary for recording details of asthma attacks might help in identifying what triggers the disease.
1. Allergens – They are one of the most common asthma triggers in children, which includes animals, pollen, dust and mite. Although it is impossible to completely avoid these triggers, taking precautions helps to minimize exposure to allergens.
Here’s how you can reduce allergens in a child’s room:
- Keep the child’s room dust free and clean
- Avoid feather pillows and comforters
- Keep curtains and bedsheets washed and cleaned
- Avoid the use of humidifiers
- Keep damp areas like bathrooms mold free
2. Exercise – It is another common…
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