Quick Relief
Asthma medications for children come in several forms. One type of medication is called "rescue" inhalers, not because they are only needed for emergencies but because they are useful for short-term relief of symptoms. These medications give relief immediately and last four to six hours. The most commonly used medication is called albuterol, which is a short-acting bronchodilator. Albuterol relaxes the muscles around the airways. Asthma symptoms are often caused by these muscles contracting and blocking the airway.
Long Term
The mainstay for long-term treatment of pediatric asthma is inhaled corticosteroids. Asthma is a disorder of the immune system similar to allergies in which the immune system has an exaggerated response to mild and normally benign substances such as pollen and dust. Corticosteroids work to suppress the immune system. Inhaled corticosteroids, such as fluticasone, have the majority of their effect in the respiratory system. Some children also take leukotriene modifiers, such as montelukast, which also limit the effects of the immune system in the lungs. Another medication that is often used along with fluticasone is cromolyn, which also works to suppress the immune system in the lungs.
Allergy-Induced Asthma
Asthma has to be "triggered" by something for an asthma attack to occur. One of the most common triggers for asthma, especially in children, is allergies. One way of treating these allergic triggers is to identify them and, if they can't be avoided, desensitize the immune system. One way of doing this is by injecting small amounts of these allergens into the patient's body once a week for a short period and then slowing the schedule to one injection per month. These shots will make the immune system more accustomed to these allergens, reducing their response and perhaps relieving the symptoms of asthma.
