Asthma occurs when airways become inflamed, swell with mucus and close up, which makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms of asthma can include coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath, according to MayoClinic.com. Some people may experience mild asthma symptoms that do not interfere with daily activities, while others may experience symptoms so severe that they can quickly become life-threatening.
Bronchiolitis
Children with asthma may develop bronchiolitis when their tiny airways swell up, which decreases the amount of oxygen in their lungs. Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory tract illness that occurs when a viral infection inflames the small passages in the lungs and causes them to swell and fill with mucus, according to the website Kids Health. Children with this condition have a difficult time breathing or catching their breath.
Kids Health states that this illness usually affects children under the age of 2, but babies as young as 3- to 6-months-old can contract the infection. It is transmitted by direct contact through the nose, mouth or airborne droplets. Bronchiolitis may be caused by a virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages, such as the respiratory syncytial virus or influenza.
Nummular Eczema
A rare complication associated with asthma is nummular eczema, according to the website Health Central. Nummular eczema is an uncommon allergy-related disorder in which itchy, circular spots appear on the surface of the skin. This disorder typically occurs in elderly men who have a family history of allergies, asthma or atopic dermatitis.
Dry skin, environmental irritants, stress and/or changes in temperature can cause the condition to flare or worsen. People with this type of eczema may experience scaly skin that resembles ring worm or psoriasis, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. While there is no cure for nummular eczema, prescription medicine along with cortisone ointments can help control outbreaks.
Exogenous Adrenal Insufficiency
Asthmatic people can develop a condition called exogenous adrenal insufficiency when their adrenal glands release too little of the hormone cortisol. Steroid medications used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis or asthma can cause the pituitary gland to decrease the amount of adrenal hormones that it produces, according to the University of California at Los Angeles. Stopping or decreasing steroid medications too quickly can impair the adrenal glands' ability to produce enough cortisol to keep the body functioning optimally.
