Children afflicted with asthma often have special needs due to their young age and smaller airways. Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes constrict causing tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. Children tend to experience these symptoms early in the morning or at night. Allergens such as mold and pollen, irritants, weather and exercise can trigger asthma symptoms. Bronchodilators are fast-acting medications that open the airways to increase airflow. Should a child experience asthmatic symptoms, contact a physician immediately for the proper testing and treatment.
Albuterol
Albuterol is a widely prescribed bronchodilator that relaxes airway muscles to increase the air flow to the lungs, according to the Drug Information website. It helps by preventing bronchospasms in children with chronic diseases or those that experience breathing difficulty following exercise. The inhaler is engineered to give metered-doses, helpful for children not always accompanied by an adult. Some side effects include restlessness, irritability and nervousness. MayoClinic.com warns that children taking albuterol more than three times a week, or those exhibiting severe symptoms may require a controller asthma medicine, and should see a doctor immediately.
Epinephrine
Epinephrine is a bronchodilator that can give asthma relief in minutes, but unfortunately, the relief only lasts a couple of hours. Epinephrine temporarily relieves shortness of breath, tightness of chest and wheezing, reports the Drug Information website. It helps reduces spasms of bronchial muscle by relaxing them for increased airflow. Epinephrine is not only available as an inhaler, but also as a tablet or liquid form. Nebulizer liquid treatments of epinephrine help to reach deep within the lungs to loosen constricted airways when an inhalation puff does not work. Tablets are longer acting than the bronchodilator, usually lasting two to four hours, but may take 30 to 60 minutes to take full effect.
Ipratropium
Ipratropium is a bronchodilator often combined with corticosteroids in the treatment and maintenance of asthma in children. A 1998 "New England Journal of Medicine" study found that wheezing and associated asthma symptoms significantly decreased in those given ipratropium. Ipratropium is available in combination with albuterol as a fast-acting inhaler. It can be combined with a corticosteroid, for long-term control of asthmatic symptoms. Corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation of the bronchial airways to decrease the frequency of asthma attacks.
