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Asthma In Kids
A
sthma is the leading cause of chronic illness among children and the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15. Unfortunately, it is very common that the parents of young ones are not able to recognize the early signs of asthma and usually overlook them as a routine ailment which usually results in wastage of an effective time when asthma could have been easily controlled.
What exactly is asthma? Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and results in chronic, inflammation of the airways. That means, the small tubes that bring air in the lungs are swollen and inflamed and at times clogged with mucus. This swelling and clogging makes it difficult for air to move freely in and out.
Asthma is characterized by repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, coughing, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing.
Why does asthma go undiagnosed in children?
Asthma usually goes undiagnosed for a number of reasons including the fact that there are other respiratory diseases that have overlapping symptoms. Another major factor is the fact that some children can stay free from the symptoms for long-periods before going through another asthma attack and also many kids only show subtle signs of the disease initially. Poor information about the true symptoms of asthma also reduces the chances of diagnosing it as most parents identify asthma with wheezing and this misconception usually makes them overlook other symptoms as just simple cold or just an infection in the chest. Chest congestion is another symptom that’s sometimes overlooked as an infection such as bronchitis. In infants asthma is all the more difficult to identify as wheezing may not be heard until they are at least 18 to 24 months old , so one must look for clues such as a rattling cough, rapid breathing and frequent chest colds. Small children may have difficulty in verbally expressing the discomfort felt in the chest so there are chances that the parents might not be aware of it.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
Although diagnosing asthma in children below the age of five is not so easy, but regular visits to a physician can help you in identifying the disease. After going through important information for e.g. Time of the cough, periodicity and recurrence of the problem, family history, symptoms such as wheezing, tight chestedness, signs of allergy etc. and the physical examination , the physician will be in a position to ascertain whether the child has asthma or not.
Testing of lung function with spirometry or a peak flow meter can also help in assessing the degree of obstruction in the air passages. However these tests are not effective for very young children and assessment is based on clinical examination and symptoms.
Identifying Asthma
Make sure you consult a physician if your child experiences any of the following signs and symptoms
- Coughing that is constant or intermittent.
- Wheezing or a whistling sounds audible when your child exhales.
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing. This may or may not be associated with exercise.
- Chest tightness.
- Repeated respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
- Identifying asthma in infants and the very young is usually difficult. The symptoms might only show up when the child exerting e.g. Coughing after running. Or your child may cough at night or during sleep. Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath also may accompany crying, yelling and laughing. Infants may have problems feeding and may grunt during suckling.
HAI DOCTOR,
my son rishik is 2 years old,we identified that he is having wheezing promblem when he was 10month.doctor advised to use inhaler .we followed up.he get cold once in a month ,but it will take 3 weeks to get cured.please doctor i want him to get cured permanantely from his allergy problem.can you please give some suggestion.
Respected sir,
I would like to inform you that my 2 months old male child is suffering from Asthma after his birth. His treatment is going on but there have no sign of relief. please give me an amicable solution so that he will get the relief.
Sincerely yours
Shri Monuj Phukon
Vill- choladhara
P.O- Tengapukhuri
Dist – Sivasagar
Pin- 785686
Phone No 9854578857
State – Assam (India)
Hi, Im Uday im itself a Patient, i will be going 19 yrs old after dis September!
I have Asthama since my birth, for curing I inhale a capsoule namely is Foracort 200 through which I feel better, but now I want a permenant resolution for dis disease, im just sick of it now!!
Hello Dr. Sharma,
My son is 5 yrs and has asthma flares related to ragweed in the fall and with cashews. So we had him on claritin once a day last year. This year asthma flares are more frequent with every cold and runny nose and he has needed inhalers more often.
He is a very happy and intelligent kid otherwise but gets very tired and cannot gain weight given his asthma (cough variant).
Thanks,
Ketki Tendulkar.
Hello Doc,
My son is of 4yrs and is suffering from an asthma cough very frequently as the weather changes he is already getting diagnosed by my family physician and a child neurologist he is keeping him on asthalin 2 puffs in every 4 hours and brudcort 2 puffs in every 6 hours and some antibiotics like doxiril and azthus but the problem is he get relief for some hours or some days and it repeats again is their any kind of homeopathic treatment i can continues with this treatment so that it get better fast.
regards,
7879646768
Dear Dr Sharma
My son is 3 yrs old and suffering from Asthama. In initial period we did allopathy treatment and later on consulting homeopathy. However, my son gets ill in every 15-20days, feel breathlessness. Recently, he has itching problem almost all over his body. In worst situation, we also consult allopathy doctor. Please advise me whether i should go for homeopathy only or else??
regards
pramod
Hai Dr,
My 4 old son has wheezing problem Dr.said he has mild asthama so he prescribed singulair daily dose my son had this problem from last year from on year we giving him flixotide 50 micrograms 2 puffs a day , now a days his problem increased he has coutiniously runny nose cough every 15 days he will go through antibiotics and nebullizers we worried about his health Dr I want to start homeopathy medicine so I want to know about that, so Dr pls help us.
My SON is 4 yrs of age & is suffering from wheezing problem from childhood. in the colder months she has cough during nights & starts wheezing. She also catches this problem if she eats/ drink something cold. she also faces shortness of breath sometimes. We are curently using pufs & neubilizer to overcome this problem. Could you please prescribe homeopathic medicine for permanent cure. I cant see her suffering any more. Please help. I shall be thankful. Also let us know where your clinic is or what is your no.
regards
6year old boy with recurrent cold,productive cough and recurrent chest infections,very chesty needs anti histamines ,mucolyte and steroids and nebulizations to get rid of the productive cough.His doctor diagnosed as brochial asthma.he has activity intolerence.and symptoms more in spring .please give me advise.he has got nasal block also and he is currently on homeopathy for last one year still he gets all troubles .
Dr. Sharma,
Namaskar.
My Son who about 8 years old, finds hard to play soccer due to breathlessness. He had wheezing problems when he was about 2-4 years old. He still has this problem but occurs rarely these days. He never had acute asthama. He is a little chubby boy and will good mental intelligence toward maths and science. He finds difficult to wake up in the morning and sometimes does overeating as he is fond of food ( and money too). Even after waking up he does not feel fresh and active.
We did some homeopathic treatment about three years ago. He was somewhat better. I would like him to run and feel active during day.
Can you please advise how can we help him in living wheezing free life? I have family in Chandigarh but I am based in Virginia US.
Rajeev Mohal
(+1)703-547-8537/703-229-9631
I’m 37 yrs old and my baby is 4 yrs old male child.i have a family history of asthma and I’m asthmatic. Now I’m looking that my child is probably getting the problem of asthma. he frequently open his mouth and try to inhale oxizen . besides these no other symptoms are prominent in this moment. I’m worried , please suggest me.
My son caught pnemonia at 5 month – hospitalized for 3 days – nubilized – oxygen – medication and drip, felt better later.
Now at 10 and half month age he got cold – a little fever – cough and the next day he was breathing very rapidly, i gave belladonaa- fever, then ipecau – incase its pnemonia again…he slept well but in the morning again he was breathing rapidly with a dhug dhug from chest – a bit of coughing-very thirsty – restless- milk aversion then we took to doctor – he said its not pnemonia – but some sort of allergy and he said to give antibiotic, some nubilizing liquid and also a steriod. i have started antibiotic not the steriod. also giving homeo medicines as i am more into it. given antimonium tart.
also i am worried that the cause isnt really found as they do not do that in allopathy. i want my son to be properly cured, i cannot keep giving him allo medicines throughout his life…
kindly suggest/prescribe….these are what i know of he got cold…cough – bit of flue…rapid breathing …sometimes fever (but gone with belladonaa)
My is suspected to have asthma.as a community health worker what do i do?
Sir,
My 8-yrs Daughter is having problem of breathing and cough.
symptoms:
Cough :
per minute 2 to 3 times ( i am not seeing this from past 2 days)
Breathing : she is taking breathing forcibly at least 4 times in One Minute. she is having little
pain in chest while taking breathing forcibly.
Thank you,
Jeevan
My daughter developed asthma at about 18 months,was hospitalized 6 times in 6 months in 2011 as it started with cough,was given nebuliser and prednisilone to make her better. I have 3 other children but none with asthma. Then in 2012 3 times in again every month,and then in 2013 in twice. Is currently taking clenil modulate 100 2 puffs twice a day,and salbutamol 100 when needed.when we take her to hospital they say it viral,but she is a very active girl and it will start with cold and then cough and then has difficulty in breathing. Please help for advice a very worried mum.
Thanks saiqa
my son was born Premature @27 Months and since birth he is prone to Lung infection.. he had been admitted twice first time for pneumonia and second time due to very frequent coughing at high intensity (snofilia in blood was 84), he is now 5 months old and when he try to play or talk extra hard he started breething faster, with wheezing sound and immediately start coughing and become impatient and cry too much after that.. we need to nebolize him to make him feel comfortable.. currently doctor is treating him with frequent neboliztion with duolin, and medicines (mextra, ventrolin, augpen-hs) please suggest the good homeopathy medicine to treat him
Hello Doctor Sharma do you treat 5 year old kids for Asthmatic conditions. I am in North Cyprus Turkey. How can I buy medicines and from where?
Please reply soon
Thank you
my son suffering from cold and cough from last four years and he is coughing more at midnight and breathing is very fast. sometimes he sits up by himself saying difficult to breathe and chest pain. he is six years old. i have treated him in alo pathic medicine from last four years but no result. kindly prescribe me with correct homeopathic medicine as my sons problem is increasing day by day.
hi Dr sharma
my son two and half year old is suffering from asthma,
is that cure in homeopathy and how can we contact with you ,so start his treatment
thanks
Dear sir
I have read your article regarding asthma its good . Sir i am having asthma from last 5-6 years earlier i dont feel it much but from last 2 years i am on inhaler , rotocaps 100 mg daily i have to take other wise i have to face short breathing ,sir i want to get rid off from this disease please suggest me it can be cured or not . my age is in 28 and my profession is also sales so i have to roam each day so i need a solution from this disease .please advise .
Dear Doctor,
My daughter of 5 years old is suffering of wheezing for the past 3 years. we are the resident of Bangalore. she is very much allergic to dust and cold, presently we are treating her in baptist hospital, Hebbal. putting her nebuliser whenever she suffers and or we give her 4 puffs of asthalin and as a preventive budicort. we are fed of this since she is sleepless during night some times. now we are looking for best homeopathy medicine for the same. please advise us.
thanking you..
Ravindra – 9901321463