Asthma symptoms in children that parents must pay attention to

Asthma is a disease commonly experienced by children. Unfortunately, not all parents really understand the signs or symptoms. Asthma symptoms in children generally tend to be similar to those of other respiratory diseases so they are often overlooked. So, so that you don't get the wrong way to handle it, let's recognize the signs or symptoms through the following reviews.

At what age do asthma symptoms appear in children?

Asthma conditions in children can appear at any age, and can even be detected since infancy. However, most children will begin to show signs and symptoms of asthma when they enterfive years old.

Until now, health experts have not been able to determine the cause of asthma in children. Some experts suspect that this can occur when children are often exposed to dust, cigarette smoke, and air pollution when doing activities outside the home.

The child's immune system is also very susceptible to various diseases. The combination of these factors makes asthma symptoms in children sometimes unavoidable.

Asthma symptoms in children are common

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the airways and lungs become more easily inflamed when exposed to asthma triggers. There is no difference with adults, so if it is not properly cared for, it can lead to quite dangerous attacks.

Plus, asthma symptoms can continue into adulthood. In general, there are four most typical symptoms of asthma in children, so you need to pay close attention, namely:

1. Cough

If the child is coughing a lot, you must be vigilant. Because, persistent cough is the most common symptom of asthma in children.

Not only dry coughs, coughing with phlegm can also be a characteristic of asthma. Usually a cough due to asthma occurs when the child is playing, laughing, crying, or sleeping at night.

Actually coughing is a natural reaction when you want to remove or get rid of foreign substances that enter the body. However, swelling and narrowing that occurs in the respiratory tract can actually trigger a similar condition.

It should also be noted that children are more prone to experiencing this than adults. Especially at night when the air tends to feel cooler.

2. Shortness of breath

Inflamed and swollen airways due to asthma triggers can make it difficult for your child to breathe freely.

He will be more likely to experience shortness of breath or gasping for breath accompanied by an irregular heaving of the chest when the asthma recurs.

Usually, asthma symptoms in this one child occur when they finish doing strenuous physical activity. These activities are like running to and fro without stopping.

Even so, exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, dust, star hair, or strong smelling fragrances can also trigger this symptom.

Short, shallow breathing can make your child nervous and panic. This often exacerbates the signs of asthma experienced by children.

3. Wheezing

If your child's cough is accompanied by wheezing, you must be careful. This is because wheezing is also the most typical symptom of asthma in children.

This condition is characterized by a whistling or whistling sound when the child inhales or exhales. This distinctive sound occurs because air is forced out through the blocked or narrowed airways.

Apart from asthma, wheezing can actually be a sign of other medical conditions. For example, bronchitis and pneumonia.

So if your child has been experiencing frequent wheezing, take a doctor immediately. The goal is of course to find out the cause so that your little one can be treated quickly and appropriately.

4. Complaining of chest tightness

Chest tightness is not always a sign of heart disease. The reason is, there are several causes of chest tightness which can also be a symptom of asthma in children. Chronic cough and wheezing experienced when asthma symptoms appear can cause chest discomfort.

Therefore, if your child complains of chest tightness or pain, you must be vigilant. According to a study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, these symptoms can occur before or during an asthma attack.

Other symptoms of asthma in children that need to be watched out for

Asthma in children can also present with a number of other symptoms. However, it should be underlined that these symptoms can again vary from child to child. For example, it is possible that your child only has persistent symptoms such as coughing or chest tightness.

Here are some asthma symptoms that can be experienced by children and should not be taken lightly by parents:

• Easily tired while playing, marked by the child's loss of interest in their favorite toys.
• Neck and chest muscles tighten.
• Frequent yawning and sighing.
• His breath was quick or fast.
• Often fussy at night because it is difficult to sleep.
• The face looks pale.
• Cold-like or allergy-like symptoms appear, such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and headaches.

When to see a doctor

Not all children will experience the same asthma symptoms. In fact, the symptoms of asthma in children can vary and continue to get worse over time.

Some children may experience mild symptoms that last only briefly. Meanwhile, other children experience more severe symptoms that are debilitating and make them unable to play or study as usual.

In principle, the severity, relapse frequency, and duration of asthma attacks in each child can vary. However, one thing is certain; the severity of the symptoms can increase very quickly, such as:

• Cough that is constant, doesn't stop, and is associated with physical activity.
• Breath becomes shorter and feels faster than usual.
• The chest feels tighter coupled with wheezing.

That's why it's important to quickly treat asthma symptoms in children once you recognize them. Without proper treatment, your child's asthma symptoms can get worse.

Asthma can also cause children to be hospitalized for dangerous complications. If you find one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, immediately take your little one to the nearest pediatrician to determine the cause.

Especially if you or your partner (even both) have a history of asthma or previous allergies. This can put your child at a higher risk of developing the same asthma. So, don't procrastinate anymore to take your little one to the doctor, OK!