Asthmatic Children: Symptoms And How To Care For Them

Dealing with a child who is asthmatic can be quite tasking especially for parents who are not used to being sickly. Children with asthma ought to be handled with care to prevent any possible mishaps.

Here is everything to know about asthma in children.

1.Quickly recognize if your child displays any of this signs:

1. Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing or crying
2. A chronic cough (which may be the only symptom)
3. Less energy during play
4. Rapid breathing (intermittently)
5. Complaint of chest tightness or chest “hurting”
6. Whistling sound when breathing in or out — called wheezing.
7. See-saw motions in the chest from labored breathing. These motions are called retractions.
8. Shortness of breath, loss of breath
9. Tightened neck and chest muscles
10. Feelings of weakness or tiredness

2. Know why your child might have asthma:

1. Nasal allergies (hay fever) or eczema (allergic skin rash)
2. A family history of asthma or allergies
3. Frequent respiratory infections
4. Low birth weight
5. Exposure to tobacco smoke before or after birth
6. Being raised in a low-income environment

3. How to care for a child with asthma:

1. A written asthma action plan can remind you what medicines your child needs to take and when.
2. Make sure your child’s medicines are easy to find by always keeping them in the same place. For example, a box in the bathroom or a drawer in your child’s room.
3. Keep a calendar or diary of your child’s symptoms every day to help you notice if symptoms get worse.
4. Pack a going-out bag with their asthma ‘kit’ in, including a copy of their written asthma action plan and any contact numbers, so you know you always have what you need wherever you go.
5. Use a planner to keep on top of your child’s medical appointments.
6. Keep important numbers, such as your child’s doctor or asthma specialist, in a diary  or in your phone.