Asthma, one of the most common chronic illnesses in children, is characterized by inflammation and tightness of the breathing airways. Children with asthma have trouble breathing and may experience chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Asthma is most common in children under 10, because their airways are smaller than those of adults. While the standard treatment for asthma is a combination of corticostroids and bronchodilators, many alternative treatments are emerging as a result of new studies.
An acute asthma attack is a medical emergency and must be evaluated and treated at the emergency department immediately.
Diet
Diet plays a major role in prevention of asthma attacks, as more children are now diagnosed with food allergies. However, figuring out what the triggers are can be a daunting task. As a general rule, eliminate all known food allergens and additives from your child's diet as well as bananas if they seem to aggravate their symptoms. Use onions and garlic liberally if your child is not allergic to them. Consider a rotation diet in which the same foods are not consumed daily, but only every three to four days.
Environment
Minimize exposure to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites and dander in the environment where your child spends most of her time. Make sure to reduce the allergens in her bedroom by using an allergen-proof plastic cover for the mattress, washing all bedding weekly and using a HEPA filter air purifier. If possible, avoid exposing your child to cats and dogs and eliminate surfaces where allergens can collect such as carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture.
Supplements
The right supplements can reduce the inflammatory effect of allergens. Studies such as the one published in the June 10, 2010, issue of the "Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology" linked severe asthma with a deficiency of vitamin D. Other supplements such as quercetin, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamins B6 and B12, vitamin E, carotenes, magnesium, selenium and fish oil have been shown to have positive effects in children with asthma. Consult your child's doctor for appropriate nutritional supplements and dosages.
Botanicals
Medicinal herbs in tinctures, teas or extracts can be helpful but need to be administered by a practitioner trained in botanical medicine and pharmaceuticals because of the potential interactions with other medications. Consult your child's doctor before starting him on any botanical medicine. More research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of botanical medicines in the treatment of childhood asthma.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy uses very small doses of substances that would cause certain symptoms in a healthy people to stimulate the body's self-healing response. Because homeopathic remedies work best if prescribed based on the unique symptoms of the child being treated, parents must find someone trained in homeopathy before giving any remedy to their child. There is still not enough clear evidence of how homeopathy works and whether it improves the long-term prognosis of asthma in children.
References
- MedlinePlus: Insufficient vitamin D tied to severe asthma attacks
- The Merk Manual: Asthma in children
- Mayo Clinic: Childhood asthma - Alternative medicine
- "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"; Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study; John M. Brehm, MD, MPH, et al; July 2010
