Asthma & Child

Asthma is one of the most chronic diseases of childhood. Asthma accounts for the most schooldays lost in children worldwide. Childhood asthma is a disorder with genetic and a strong allergic connection. The signs and symptoms associated with childhood asthma are wheezing, cough and respiratory infections. Children who suffer from frequent coughing and respiratory infections like bronchitis should be examined by a medical professional for condition of asthma. Children who cough after running and crying also should be subjected to examination for asthma.

In some cases the usual symptoms of asthma are not noticeable, but still there is an obstruction of the airways, limiting the child’s physical activity. This situation is known as hidden asthma. If the condition is left untreated, it may lead to frequent respiratory illness.

Managing children with asthma is more of a psychological and emotional issue. It is important that in case of an episode of asthma, the anxiety and panic is controlled. The parents should take care that they stay calm and encourage the child to relax and breathe easily and slowly. This should be followed by appropriate medications in consultation with a medical professional.

Managing Asthma

Managing Your Asthma

• The first step is to identify and avoid exposure to the trigger factors
• Keep the house free of dust, mites, moulds and pets.
• Take the medications as prescribed
• Stop smoking and avoid passive smoking too.
• Take precautions as weather changes.
• Initiate and continue breathing exercises
• Keep consulting your medical professional regularly

ASTHMA - Using Inhalation Therapy

Inhalation therapy is the most widely misunderstood of all therapies used for the treatment of asthma. It is considered by many to be the last resort for an asthmatic patient. On the contrary, inhalation therapy is the most effective, safe and cost effective of all therapy.

The various types of techniques used to administer the drug through inhalation directly to the airways and the lungs is as follows

• Powder Inhalers: This is device used to deliver a measured dose of medicine in a powdered form. The medicine in powdered form is packed inside a capsule, the powder inhaler device is used to break open the capsule and inhale its contents.
• Spray Inhalers: This is the most widely used form of inhalation method. A measured dose of medication is delivered on every actuation of the pressurized canister. The effectiveness of this therapy depends upon the proper usage i.e the synchronization between the actuation and inhalation by the patient.
• Spacer Devices: This device enhances the effectiveness of the inhalation therapy. The spray inhaler is attached to one side of the spacer device. The spacer device acts as a holding chamber for the medication released from the spray inhaler. The patient can inhale the medication very easily and effectively.
• Nebulisers: This device is used to deliver higher dose of medications when the breathing becomes too difficult. The medication is placed in a medication cup and the air pumped out through the machine transforms the medication into fine mist, which is easily inhaled by the patient in the normal breathing rhythm using a facemask or a mouthpiece. This device is basically used in hospitals, nursing homes and even by the patient in their homes.

Advantages of Inhalation therapy

• Smaller dose of medication, when compared to the other oral form of medications like tablets, capsules and syrups, the amount of medication used in inhalation therapy is very small.
• Target delivery of medication, unlike in other forms of medication taken orally, where the absorption happens from the stomach to the blood stream and then to the target area, where the action is required. In case of inhalation the medication is directly delivered to the target area of action itself.
• Quicker action, because the delivery of the medication happens directly to the target area for action, the onset of the action and relief is must faster than the oral way of administration of the medication.
• Safer, because the dosage of medication taken is very small compared to the other form of administration of medications, the side effects are much lesser or nearly negligible, especially if the patient is on a steroidal therapy.

ASTHMA - Treatment

In people suffering from asthma, the episodes or attacks of asthma keep happening now and then. It manifests in different people with different symptoms, at different times and as a reason of different trigger factors. Different types of medications are used in the treatment of asthma. The treatment of asthma and management of asthma is based on the severity of the attack and the condition of the patient. The treatment with medications is aimed at providing relief from the symptoms associated with asthma or preventing the development of such symptoms. Broadly two types of medications are used for the treatment of asthma.

• Medications used for providing Quick Relief, these asthma medications are used to provide an immediate relief from an acute attack of asthma; they are aimed at bringing down the symptoms of an acute attack. They help to relieve the patient of the cough and breathing difficulties and widening of the airways. These asthma medications are also called as “Relievers”.
• Medications used for Prevention, these medications do not provide any immediate relief, but they are advised to be taken for a longer duration of time on a regular basis to bring down the incidences of an attack or episodes of asthma. They help in protecting the airways from the effects of trigger factors. These medications are also called as “Preventers”.

Asthma Medications – Different ways of administrations
Based on the severity of the asthma attack and the action desired to bring down the symptoms of an asthma attack, different forms of medications are prescribed by the medical professional for an asthmatic patient.

• Oral Medications, these are administered orally, like tablets, capsules or syrups. Cough syrups are prescribed to get relief from the symptom of cough. They are basically used for providing quick relief and for preventive measure also. Oral drugs are slower in action, as they need to get absorbed from the stomach to the blood stream and then to the lungs where the action is required.
• Injections, they are faster in action and they used to provide immediate relief from an acute asthma attack.
• Inhalation therapy, this is the most safest, easier and cost effective of all asthma treatment. It is also a therapy with least side effects. The medication is directly inhaled to the airways and lungs, where the action is most required. This is used for both providing quick relief and for long term prevention of attacks.

ASTHMA - Triggers & Symptoms

Triggers for asthma: Certain things around us or part of our daily routine can trigger an episode of asthma. Some are listed below.

• Common cold
• Respiratory infection
• Air pollution
• Cigarette smoke
• House dust & mites
• Cold air
• Exercise
• Pollen grains
• Fur /animal dander
• Insecticides
• Paint fumes
• Flour dust
• Wood dust
• Certain foodstuff
• Change in weather
• Emotional upset

Symptoms of Asthma

The main common symptoms of asthma are

• Coughing
• Wheezing (whistling sound during breath)
• Tightness of chest
• Shortness of breath

The other less common symptoms of asthma includes

• Disturbed sleep during early hours of the morning along with cough.

• Acute breathless during any strenuous Exercise or physical activity

• Episodes of breathlessness and cough after an attack of cold.

These symptoms mentioned above may vary from person to person and with the same person during different times.

ASTHMA - The Condition

Asthma is a long lasting disease affecting the lungs and the airways. Asthma is characterized by attacks of breathlessness, tightness of chest, wheezing and coughing, which is caused due to the narrowing and inflammation of the airways. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 100 and 150 million people suffer from asthma and this is increasing at an average of 50 per cent every year. Asthma can occur at all ages, but is found to be more prevalent in children. Some children grow out of asthma and some people are only affected at different times of the year. However, the period of time during which people may have asthma attacks can last for many years or throughout life.

What happens in asthma?

Due to the action of certain triggering factors, the airways which carry air to the lungs on breathing gets narrowed. This makes it difficult for the air to go in and out of the lungs and thus results in an asthmatic condition. The narrowing of the airways is caused due to certain factors like

· Tightening of muscles in the walls of the airways

· Swelling in the inner lining of the airways

· Build up of mucous inside the airways