Asthma Exacerbation in Children: Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Asthma Exacerbation?

Asthma exacerbation is just like normal asthma, but the difference is in its severity. The normal asthma clinical features start deteriorating. Asthma exacerbation affects both children and adults. If you are worried about this, get ready to know about the condition.

What Are the Clinical Features of Asthma Exacerbation?

Several children have asthma. Even parents do not know about asthma symptoms. The clinical features of asthma exacerbations in children include:

• The kids may be coughing frequently. It can happen at night, early in the morning, or even while playing.

• They feel low during the day or while playing.

• The heart beat very fast.

• Chest tightness.

• When your kid takes a breath, you may hear some sounds, like whistles.

• Being cranky.

• Trouble eating and difficulty sucking in your little ones.

In some severe cases, the symptoms may worsen, and without medical help, the condition cannot be treated. There is a need for healthcare providers in the following situations:

• If the kids have a bad cough.

• Severe breathing issues worsen as time goes on, and even at rest, the kid may have difficulty breathing.

• Your kid's face, lips, or fingernails turn pale or blue (cyanosis).

• Your kid may face difficulty speaking.

What Are the Causes of Asthma Exacerbations in Children?

Let’s discuss the causes of asthma exacerbation.

• Viruses: First up, those ugly viruses. When your kid has a cold or flu, some parents get confused with asthma. The kids may sneeze when the pollen, dust, and dry air go into their noses.

• In-House Smoke: Harmful air can be present even inside the house. That can be smoke, chemicals present on the floor and surroundings, and detergents, too. This can make asthma worse.

• Stress: This is another problem - when life gets rough, asthma can flare up.

• Family History: If the parents have asthma, their kids may also suffer from it.

• Obesity: A high body mass index also increases the risk of developing the condition.

• Premature babies or those living in a polluted area can all make asthma worse.

• History of Previous Asthma Attack: If the kid has had asthma before in their life, they are at high risk of getting a second one.

Who Is at High Risk?

Do you know the usual suspects? No! Read below.

• People with previous and recent allergen encounters.

• Younger children, Asian and African American children, and those breathing in smoke are also in the danger zone.

• People living in low-income or urban areas are at high risk.

How Is Asthma Exacerbation in Children Diagnosed?

Do you want to know how to identify asthma exacerbations in kids? Let’s discuss some tricks for identifying the condition.

• Medical History: When you take your child to the doctor, they will likely ask about your child's health history and any breathing issues. Additionally, they will ask you what symptoms you have noticed.

• Breathing Tests: Your doctor will do breathing tests that will help them understand how serious asthma might be.

• Allergy Tests: These could be skin pricks or blood tests to see what might be affecting your child's immune system.

• Chest X-Ray: Sometimes, doctors perform a chest X-ray on your kid to determine whether something is wrong and to determine the cause.

What Is the Treatment for Asthma Exacerbation in Children?

Let's talk about some new ways to help kids manage asthma attacks.

• Inhaled Corticosteroids: Parents should check their children's signs of asthma. The healthcare provider will give the children additional inhaled corticosteroids to prevent asthma attacks. If the child is taking these corticosteroids frequently, the parent should go to the healthcare provider to check for the condition.

• Quick Relief Medications: These medications provide quick relief to the kids. This combination of drugs is termed SMART (single inhaler for maintenance and reliever therapy). The use of such combination therapy has been proven to reduce the risk of asthma attacks by 50 percent when compared to conventional treatment.

• Biologic Therapy: New treatments called biologics are available. One of them is Omalizumab, which children above six years of age can take. It helps prevent allergy-triggered asthma attacks and even fights off some viruses that can cause trouble. There are a few other biologic drugs, too, like Mepolizumab, Benralizumab, and Dupilumab.

How to Prevent Asthma Exacerbations in Children?

Let's discuss some preventive strategies to keep children with asthma safe and healthy.

• Parents and caregivers must help their child limit their exposure to allergens, irritants, and other triggers that can result in asthma attacks.

• As tobacco smoke is a risk factor that can trigger asthma attacks, one should ensure that children are kept safe and away from tobacco smoke. Parents should not allow any person to smoke around their children.

• Parents must encourage their children to be involved in regular physical activity and be active. This can help the child's asthma be well-controlled, and their lungs work more efficiently.

• Parents must not ignore the asthma signs and symptoms in children, even if they are mild. If it appears to be out of control, such as often needing quick-relief inhalers, checking in with their healthcare provider is necessary. Seeing a pediatrician whenever necessary can help reduce the possibility of asthma attacks.

• Severe heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can increase the risk of asthma attacks.

What Are the Complications of Asthma Exacerbations in Children?

If you are not taking this seriously, your body organs can suffer. It may interfere with your sleep. If your lungs get involved, there will be severe lung damage. It may also lead to death.

Conclusion

In children, asthma can take a serious turn if parents do not take care of it. It may also lead to asthma exacerbation. Some smoke, pollen, and viruses can be the reason behind it. You should get medical help early.

Key Takeaway From iCliniq

Breathing problems are more common. You and your child might have asthma. If you notice that your kid is having frequent coughs in the morning and at night, then it’s time to consult your doctor. You can take a doctor's suggestions at icliniq.com to get rid of asthma. They will suggest medications and preventive measures to manage asthma.