Each year, almost half a million children end up in the emergency room as a result of asthma conditions. More than half of those require at least one day of hospitalization due to their asthma symptoms. Asthma accounts for more hospital visits and stays than any other chronic disease during childhood.
It also results in more absences from school than any other childhood sickness. When these days are combined with the sick days that parents take to stay home and care for their kids, the financial effects of childhood asthma can be almost as significant as the emotional effects.
Despite the number of children suffering from asthma, not all cases are known. There are a large number of kids suffering from what has become known as "hidden asthma" where the symptoms are dismissed as those of a cold, bronchitis or some other less serious condition.
Because the symptoms are often quite similar to these other conditions, children often don't receive the proper treatment for their asthma. If a child seems to be prone to catching colds or waking up in the night coughing, it could be a sign of an asthma problem. This is also the case with kids who seem to get winded quickly when playing games or sports.
Some of the most common symptoms of asthma in children include:
Wheezing
While wheezing isn't the most common symptom, it is certainly one of the most obvious. If your child's breathing produces a whistling sound, it could be a sign of airway obstruction, a common symptom of asthma.
While wheezing can be caused by other conditions as well, it is best to check with your child's doctor to get a proper diagnosis at the first sign of the problem.
Coughing
Coughing is likely the most common symptom of childhood asthma and in many cases is the only one. If your child's cough is persistent and continues after any other cold symptoms are gone (or none are apparent at all), if they cough during any kind of physical activity or if they have a rattling cough with no production, it could be a sign of an asthma problem.
Tightness in the Chest
Sometimes children will complain that their chest hurts or that they can't seem to catch their breath, but in many cases they can't really explain the feeling effectively. Watch for signs that they're having trouble breathing, such as pursed lips or flared nostrils. If the difficulty breathing is severe you may even see the hollow of their throat moving in and out as they struggle to get air to their lungs.
Jackson Sperry writes about occupational asthma and other related topics at http://asthmarelief.devhub.com/
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