Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by narrowing of the airways which makes it difficult for a person affected with the condition to breathe normally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2008 there were seven million children in the U.S. suffering from asthma. Treatment of infantile asthma is based on preventing an asthma attack or relieving an existing attack. As such, asthma treatments are categorized as preventers or relievers. Both relievers and preventers are inhaled via the mouth.
Relievers
Relievers, also known as a quick-relief inhalers, are designed to help a child who is suffering from asthma symptoms by relaxing the airways. According to the British Medical Journal Group, a child should carry a reliever with them at all times as they can quickly help a child's breathing return to normal during a mild asthma attack. Relievers contain medicines such as salbutamol and terbutaline that belong to a class of drugs known as bronchodilators. Serious side effects are uncommon with reliever inhalers although the British Medical Journal Group warns that relievers may cause a child's heart to beat faster and can cause trembling.
Preventers
According to Asthma UK, a doctor may prescribe a preventer inhaler to help calm down down swelling in a child's airways and reduce sensitivity to asthma triggers. Not all children need a preventer inhaler. They are usually prescribed for children who are also using a reliever inhaler three or more times a week. Preventer inhalers contain inhaled steroids. According to the "British Medical Journal," research shows that inhaled steroids are effective in controlling asthma symptoms in children. Most preventer inhalers are used once or twice a day and usually contain steroids such as beclometasone, budesonide or fluticasone. Inhaled steroids may cause side effects such as a sore mouth or a hoarse voice, but these side effects are usually temporary. In rare cases, inhaled steroids may stop a child's adrenal glands from working properly. However, according to the British Medical Journal Group, this has only happened to children taking higher than normal doses.
Steroid Tablets
According to Asthma UK, a doctor may sometimes prescribe a three-to-five day course of steroid tablets which are designed to treat the asthma after a child has experienced an asthma attack. Asthma UK says that children do not usually experience any side effects from undergoing occasional treatment with oral steroids.
