Childhood asthma has become more of a problem over the past several decades and now affects approximately 6 million children in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the lungs and results in difficulty breathing, wheezing and cough. It is the most common chronic disease in children. Asthma is not a preventable disease; still, eliminating risk factors may help prevent flares in patients with asthma.
Inherited Risk Factors
Childhood asthma is likely the result of both genetic and environmental factors, says MayoClinic.com. Children with parents or siblings who have asthma are at increased risk of developing asthma themselves. Additionally, children with parents or siblings who have other allergic disease such as allergic rhinitis, food allergies and eczema are also at increased risk for developing asthma. During childhood, asthma is more common among boys than among girls, according to the NLHBI.
Environmental Risk Factors
Certain environments may contribute to the development of asthma in patients who are susceptible. Exposure to tobacco smoke at a young age and living in an area with air pollution increase a child's risk of developing asthma, says MayoClinic.com. Additionally, children who have episodes of wheezing with respiratory infections are at increased risk of developing asthma. Children who were born prematurely or at a low birth weight are at increased risk, as are children who are obese. Finally, children with eczema, food allergies or allergic rhinitis have an increased risk of developing asthma.
Asthma Triggers
In a child who has asthma, certain triggers cause symptoms to flare. Asthma is a result of a sensitive immune system and inflamed airways. In response to certain substances or other triggers, this inflammation worsens and results in a cascade of events that worsens symptoms. Common triggers in childhood include viral infections, allergens, tobacco smoke, physical activity, and changes in weather. It is important to identify triggers in children to reduce asthma symptoms.
Social Factors
Asthma in children can be particularly difficult to deal with because of the limitations in activity that result. Night-time cough in children can reduce the quantity and quality of sleep and daytime symptoms make it difficult for a child to play and participate in sports. Additionally, asthma symptoms often result in missed school days and can make it difficult for a child to keep up in school. For these reasons, early diagnosis and adequate treatment in children is particularly important.
Special Considerations
Children younger than age 6 may not be able to participate in testing for asthma. Testing for asthma requires a patient to breathe into and out of a machine to measure lung function; younger children may not be able to do this. For this reason, an official diagnosis of asthma is not typically made until after 6-years of age. In children younger than 3, asthma medication is rarely used except for in acute attacks of wheezing because it is unknown how long-term medications will affect children this young, according to MayoClinic.com.
