Asthma in children is one of the most common causes of missed school days. The airway condition can disrupt sleep, play and other activities.

Asthma can’t be cured, but you and your child can reduce symptoms by following an asthma action plan. This is a written plan you develop with your child’s doctor to track symptoms and adjust treatment.

Asthma treatment in children improves day-to-day breathing, reduces asthma flare-ups and helps reduce other problems caused by asthma. With proper treatment, even severe asthma can be kept under control.

Asthma symptoms in children ages 5-11:

Common asthma signs and symptoms in children ages 5 to 11 include:

  • Coughing, particularly at night.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Chest pain, tightness or discomfort.
  • Avoiding or losing interest in sports or physical activities.

Some children have few day-to-day symptoms, but have severe asthma attacks now and then. Other children have mild symptoms or symptoms that get worse at certain times. You may notice that your child’s asthma symptoms get worse at night, with activity, when your child has a cold, or with triggers such as cigarette smoke or seasonal allergies.

Asthma emergencies

Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms of an asthma emergency in children ages 5 to 11 include:

  • Significant trouble breathing.
  • Persistent coughing or wheezing.
  • No improvement even after using a quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others).
  • Being unable to speak without gasping.
  • Peak flow meter readings in the red zone.

Asthma treatment

If your child’s asthma symptoms are severe, your family doctor or pediatricians may refer your child to see an asthma specialist.

The doctor will want your child to take just the right amount and type of medication needed to control his or her asthma. This will help prevent side effects.

Based on your record of how well your child’s current medications seem to control signs and symptoms, your child’s doctor may “step up” treatment to a higher dose or add another type of medication. If your child’s asthma is well controlled, the doctor may “step down” treatment by reducing your child’s medications. This is known as the stepwise approach to asthma treatment.

Long-term control medications

Known as maintenance medications, these are generally taken every day on a long-term basis to control persistent asthma. These medications may be used seasonally if your child’s asthma symptoms become worse during certain times of the year.

Types of long-term control medications include:

  • Inhaled corticosteroids. These are the most common long-term control medications for asthma. These anti-inflammatory drugs include fluticasone (Flixotide), budesonide (Pulmicort), beclomethasone (Becotide), and mometasone (Asmanex).
  • Leukotriene modifiers. These include montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo). They can be used alone or as an addition to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.

In rare cases, montelukast and zileuton have been linked to psychological reactions such as agitation, aggression, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thinking. Seek medical advice right away if your child has any unusual psychological reaction.

  • Combination inhalers. These medications contain an inhaled corticosteroid plus a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). They include the combinations fluticasone–salmeterol (Seretide), budesonide–formoterol (Symbicort), and mometasone-formoterol (Dulera). In some situations, long-acting beta agonists have been linked to severe asthma attacks.

control asthma triggers

Taking steps to help your child avoid triggers is an important part of controlling asthma. Asthma triggers vary from child to child. Work with your child’s doctor to identify triggers and steps you can take to help your child avoid them. Common asthma triggers include:

  • Colds or other respiratory infections.
  • Allergens such as dust mites or pollen.
  • Pet dander.

    Little girl using inhaler and showing OK. 

     

  • Cold weather.
  • Mold and dampness.
  • Cigarette smoke and other irritants in the air.
  • Severe heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD).

The key to asthma control: Stick to the plan

Following and updating your child’s asthma action plan is the key to keeping asthma under control. Carefully track your child’s asthma symptoms, and make medication changes as soon as they’re needed. If you act quickly, your child is less likely to have a severe attack, and he or she won’t need as much medication to control symptoms.

With careful asthma management, your child should be able to avoid flare-ups and minimize disruptions caused by asthma.

preparer by:

Dr. Taisser Zaki

paediatrician in armada medical centre