What You Need to Know about Asthma in Children

You want your child to live a healthy, active life, but what if your child has asthma? The truth is, asthma can be treated effectively by your pediatrician, so your child can thrive. Dr. Lisa Rainey and Dr. Perdita Taylor-Zapata at West End Pediatrics in Alexandria, VA, provide a wide range of pediatric medicine services, including diagnosis and treatment of asthma.

What You Need to Know about Asthma in Children

Your child’s airways are smaller than those of an adult. That means signs and symptoms of asthma can be more pronounced. Your child should be evaluated for asthma if your child is experiencing frequent:

• Wheezing or coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Recurrent bronchitis
• Tightness in the chest

The signs and symptoms of asthma in infants and toddlers may be more difficult to recognize. You should have your baby evaluated for asthma if you notice:

• Your child feeding more slowly
• Your child has breathing difficulty while feeding
• Frequent coughing, especially when your child is active
• Your child quickly tiring when active

Remember that a severe asthma attack can be fatal, so call emergency services immediately if your child is:

• Gasping for air
• Not speaking because of inability to breathe
• Breathing deeply, the abdomen to tuck underneath the ribcage

An asthma attack can often be brought on by exposure to an allergen, so one of the first steps is to test your child for allergies. After any allergies have been identified, your pediatrician may recommend:

• Allergy testing
• Allergy injections
• Sublingual immunotherapy

Your pediatrician will also test for asthma using spirometry and other lung function tests. If your child has asthma, your pediatrician may recommend:

• Rescue inhalers to relieve acute symptoms
• Long-term asthma medications to provide lasting asthma relief

Call Your Pediatrician Today

To find out more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of asthma in children, call Dr. Lisa Rainey and Dr. Perdita Taylor-Zapata at West End Pediatrics in Alexandria, VA. You can reach them in the office by calling (703) 823-7400, so call today.