Asthma In Babies And Toddlers

About 16 of black children and 7 of white children have asthma.

Asthma in babies and toddlers.

In childhood asthma the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to certain triggers such as inhaling pollen or catching a cold or other respiratory infection. Childhood asthma can cause bothersome daily symptoms that interfere with play sports school and sleep. A cough that gets worse after a viral infection less energy during. Also standard diagnostic tests used to measure how well someone is breathing cannot be used easily or accurately with children under age 5.

Signs and symptoms of asthma in children include. A baby has much. Asthma is a serious disease causing wheezing difficulty breathing and coughing. Over a lifetime it can cause permanent lung damage.

Diagnosing and managing asthma in children under age 5 can be difficult. Infants are usually treated with medication given by a nebulizer or with an inhaler using a spacer with a mask. Asthma in toddlers often occurs due to the inflammation in the lungs and airways when they are exposed to triggers like airborne pollen or air pollution. Bronchial tubes in infants toddlers and preschoolers are already small and narrow and colds and other illnesses can inflame airways making them even smaller and more irritated.

The first signs of asthma in your baby may be triggered by a respiratory infection. In infants and toddlers it may be hard for parents and even doctors to recognize symptoms are due to asthma. Medicines used to treat asthma symptoms in infants and toddlers are usually given in inhaled forms. In infants and young children the primary symptoms of asthma wheezing and coughing may be caused by other conditions.

A cough that doesn t go away which may be the only symptom coughing spells that happen often especially during play or exercise at night in cold air or while laughing or. While we don t know what causes asthma we do know how to prevent asthma attacks or at least make them less severe. Signs of asthma in children can include. If your child ever develops a viral respiratory infection be sure to look for signs of asthma.

Many babies toddlers and preschoolers are treated for asthma by their pediatrician.