By: Jenna Mathis Asthma in Young Children

Overview of Illness "Asthma is a chronic (long-term) illness in which the airways become blocked or narrowed" (AAFA, 2005). When the airways narrow or become blocked, it causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. It is a condition stemmed by allergic response, and is often seen in children who have other allergies. If asthma isn’t treated, it can become progressively worse (Marotz, 2009). (Suarez, 2008)

Triggers of an Asthma Attack Asthma attacks can be triggered by many things, such as: Airborne allergens, e.g., polle, animal dander, dust, molds, perfumes, cleaning chemicals, paint, ozone, cockroaches Foods, e.g., nuts, wheat, milk, eggs Second-hand cigarette smoke Respiratory infections, e.g., colds, bronchitis Changes in temperature, e.g., cold, rain, wind Vigorous exercise (Marotz, 2009) (Zieve, 2011)

Signs and Symptoms Symptoms most typically seen in childhood asthma are caused by the swelling and spasms of the respiratory tract. It is suspected that as the size of a child’s airways increase, the asthma attacks will decrease (Marotz, 2009). Some symptoms of acute asthma include: Wheezing is a high-pitched, whistling sound that your child may make during an asthma attack. If you hear this sound as your child breathes, be sure to let your doctor know. Not all people who wheeze have asthma, and not all those who have asthma wheeze. In fact, if asthma is really severe, there may not be enough movement of air through a person's airways to produce this sound. Chronic cough, especially at night and after exercise or exposure to cold air, can be a symptom of asthma. Shortness of breath, especially during exercise, is another possible sign. All children get out of breath when they're running and jumping, but most resume normal breathing very quickly afterward. If your child doesn't, a visit to your doctor is in order. Tightness in the chest is a symptom that you may have to ask your child about. If you notice any of the signs just described, it's a good idea to ask your child whether he or she feels a tight, uncomfortable feeling in the chest. (AAFA, 2005)

Management Treatments of asthma include: Identifying the substances that trigger flare-ups and removing them from the child’s environments (Marotz, 2009) Quick Relief Medications: Medications that provide immediate relief of asthma symptoms relax the muscles around the airways, making breathing easier. They begin to work within minutes after they are used, and their effects may last for up to 6 hours (AAFA, 2005). Long-term Control Medications: Unlike the quick- relief medications, long-term medicines do not provide quick relief in the midst of an asthma episode. Rather, they work over the long term to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. The long-term control medications can be divided into four broad categories: Inhaled anti-inflammatory agents Oral corticosteroids Long-acting bronchodilators Oral leukotriene modifiers (AAFA, 2005)

What Teachers Can Do Set up meetings with the family of the diagnosed child to learn about the child’s condition and what substances are likely to trigger an attack (Marotz, 2009). Send out information to the remaining parents in the class, relaying that a child in the class has asthma, and ask to be considerate and not bring items that may trigger a flare-up. Always encourage children to participate in regular activities, so that the child never feels left out because of his or her condition (Marotz, 2009). If the school/parents allow it, keep emergency medication on hand in order to administer to the child if necessary.

Bibliography Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). (2005). Childhood asthma. Retrieved from Discovery Kids. (2011). Asthma attacks. Retrieved from attacks attacks Health Medical Care Specialist. (2012). Asthma: Chronic condition and allergic reaction. Retrieved from condition-and-allergenic-reaction/ condition-and-allergenic-reaction/ Marotz, L. (2009). Health, safety, and nutrition for the young child. (7 ed., pp ). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar. Suarez. (2008, April 24). Asthma: When you can't breathe. Retrieved from when-you-cant-breathe.htmlhttp://acupuncturebandon.blogspot.com/2008/04/asthma- when-you-cant-breathe.html Zieve, D. (2011, May 1). Common asthma triggers. Retrieved from