ASTHMA FLARE-UPS

Asthma is an illness that affects a person's airways or bronchial tubes. These tubes lead from the trachea into the lungs.

 

For most kids, breathing is an unconscious action: they breathe in through their noses or mouths and the air goes into the trachea, travelling next through the airways into the lungs. Nevertheless, such an easy action can be really difficult because of the sensitivity of their airways.

WHO GETS ASTHMA?

Asthma is more common than we might think. In fact, it affects about 1 or 2 kids out of 10. It can start at any age, being specially common in school-age kids.

The reason why people are affected by asthma is still unknown, but it has been proved that it runs in families.

WHAT IS AN ASTHMA FLARE-UP?

An asthma flare-up or asthma attack happens when a person's airways get swollen and narrower and it becomes extremely difficult for air to get easily in and out of the lungs. What is more, the swollen airways may sometimes produce extra mucus, becoming breathing even more difficult. Kids with asthma may wheeze, cough or feel tightness in the chest.

After an asthma flare-up, the airways almost always return to the way they were before, although it can take several days. Nevertheless, if asthma is not treated can get worse and worse.

 

WHAT CAUSES AN ASTHMA FLARE-UP?

An asthma flare-up may occur when a children comes in contact with:

• Dust mites
• Mold
• Pollen
• Colds
• Furry animals
• Perfume
• Chalk dust
• Cigarrette smoke

TREATMENT

Kids affected by asthma should try to avoid those elements that can cause their airways to tighten. Nevertheless, some of them, such as animals, colds or chalk dust, cannot be avoided. Thus, these children need to manage their illness with medication.

Since there are different types of asthma, there are also different kinds of medicines for treating it. In order to provide the best treatment, the doctor will take into account the causes of the asthma flare-ups, how often they happen and how serious they are.

There are two main sorts of medication:

• The rescue medicine: when it is taken only once in a while, when a flare-up happens. It works fast opening the airways, so the person can breathe easily again.
• The controller medicine: it needs to be taken every day. It is mainly used to prevent flare-ups.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF AN ASTHMA FLARE-UP

• Coughing, even if your child has no cold
• Throat clearing
• Rapid or irregular breathing
• Unusual fatigue
• Trouble sitting or standing still
• Restless sleep

WHAT TO DO

Asthma flare-ups demand IMMEDIATE attention. Take the rescue medication and go to the doctor (if it is really serious, even go to the hospital).

HOW TO PREVENT ASTHMA FLARE-UPS

• Take the prescribed medication
• Keep rescue medicine on hand at all times
• Avoid triggers, such as allergens