Asthma is a condition of chronic inflammation in the lungs. It is characterized by intermittent bouts of coughing, wheezing and respiratory distress or what is commonly known as an "asthma attack". This condition requires daily vigilance and a coordinated health plan to prevent its deleterious effects. Despite great advances in its treatment, asthma still kills thousands of people each year. Asthma remains the single most common cause of school absenteeism in children.
The Causes of Asthma
Children with asthma have a genetic predisposition to the disease. The airways of children with asthma prove extremely sensitive to asthma triggers, such as colds, allergies, changes in the weather and environmental pollutants. These triggers produce a biochemical chain reaction that ends in the swelling of the airways, which results in their narrowing. When this happens, the child feels short of breath and has respiratory distress, with chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Asthma proves hard to diagnose in younger children, because they have many respiratory infection in their first few years, which can mimic the symptoms of asthma.
Treatment
The treatment for asthma relies on a two-part strategy of decreasing the inflammation surrounding the airways, and improving airflow within the lungs by opening up the airways. An important class of medicines used to treat asthma attacks is the bronchodilators. These medicines, which include the commonly used albuterol, help dilate the airway and improve airflow. Another common class of medicines is the steroids. Steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that decrease inflammation around the airway. Sufferers can take steroids in pill form for short-term relief or inhale them for long-term preventive action.
Prevention
The most important aspect of asthma therapy is prevention. This includes medical and environmental strategies. The medical aspect of prevention includes taking inhaled steroids and allergy-controlling medicines on a consistent basis. The environmental strategy involves avoidance of asthma triggers, like cigarette smoke, dust and other pollutants. Another important aspect includes developing an asthma action plan, a document that specifies what do to in case children develop asthma symptoms.
