Cincinnati Kids: Got Asthma?

While asthma in children isn’t different from asthma in adults, it does often have more serious consequences for little ones. According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma is a leading cause of emergency room visits for children. And though asthma symptoms don’t differ significantly between children and adults, it’s crucial to properly treat childhood asthma to prevent damage as lungs develop.

Like in most parts of the country, childhood asthma in Cincinnati can be triggered by viral infections, exposure to air pollutants, allergies (such as to dust mites or pet dander), physical activity, or drastic weather changes. Some other factors that can increase the risk of asthma in children is a family history, living in an urban area with more air pollutants, obesity, or respiratory conditions.

Asthma Symptoms in Children
Often, kids are too young to tell parents and caregivers about their symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to keep a close watch if you suspect they have childhood asthma. Here are some common childhood asthma symptoms to watch out for:

• Tightness in the chest
• Coughing that worsens at night
• A wheezing or a whistling sound when breathing
• Shortness of breath or any trouble breathing
• Chest pain, particularly in younger kids

Other, less obvious symptoms:

• Trouble sleeping, likely caused by overnight coughing
• Coughing and wheezing that get worse when your child gets worse when he/she has a respiratory infection
• Trouble playing, likely due to trouble breathing
• Fatigue, likely because of disrupted sleep patterns

When to Seek Treatment for Childhood Asthma
If you suspect your child may have asthma, one of our Cincinnati allergists can help. Early treatment can alleviate day-to-day symptoms, but it can also prevent full-blown asthma attacks. Our goal for kids with childhood asthma is to enable them to play, go to school, and, well, just be kids. We want to treat childhood asthma symptoms so kids can sleep well, run and play, and be at their very best.