The Kidd World Media Monthly Blog | Information on Childhood Asthma

-Information Childhood Asthma-

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WHAT ABOUT HIDDEN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA?

Until rapid breathing, wheezing and coughing become obvious, the condition of many children with asthma will go undetected. These children with asthma usually suffer some degree of airway obstruction; and unless it is brought under control, the children may suffer respiratory illness more frequently than necessary.Hidden asthma, however, can produce so few recognizable symptoms that even the physician might not be able to distinguish abnormal breath sounds with his or her stethoscope but it may cause subtle problems such as limitation of physical activity. Pulmonary function testing usually reveals these cases of airway obstruction.WHAT USUALLY TRIGGERS CHILDHOOD ASTHMA?

Episodes of asthma often are triggered by some condition or stimulus. Common triggers of asthma are:

• Exercise
• Infections
• Allergy
• Irritants
• Weather
• Emotions (infrequent)

Exercise

Running can trigger an episode in over 80 percent of children with asthma. Bronchodilator medications used before exercise can prevent most of these episodes. With proper control of asthma, most children with asthma can participate fully in physical activities.There might be exceptions, such as prolonged running, especially during cold weather, allergy season or illness from a "cold." Swimming seems to be the least asthma-provoking form of exercise. However recently there has been concern about excessively chlorinated pools precipitating asthma episodes.REMEMBER

Asthma is...

1. An inflammatory condition of the airways caused by allergens, irritants and respiratory infections.
2. Triggered by many different stimuli (trigger factors) that activate an over-reactive airway system.
3. Is reversible and controllable (with only a few rare exceptions.)

Sources:
1. National Center for Health Statistics. Raw Data from the National Health Interview Survey, U.S., 1982-1996, 2001-2004. (Analysis by the American Lung Association, Using SPSS and SUDAAN software).
2. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Allergy and Advocate: Fall 2004. Available at: www.aaaai.org/patients/advocate/2004/fall/costs.stm.
3. Kemp, James P.; Kemp, Judith A.; American Family Physician: Management of Asthma in Children; April 2001.
4. University of Michigan Health System Women's Health Program, Vol. 1. Issue 12, May 2003: Women's Health Resource Center News. Available at: http//www.med.umich.edu/whp/whrc/news/newsletter-may03.pdf. Accessed on 8/07/06.
5. California Environmental Protection Agency: Respiratory Health Effect of Passive Smoking, June 2005.