Chest And Lungs

Here are definitions of medical terms related to asthma in children. Allergen: A foreign substance that triggers an allergic response in a susceptible person. Allergens are usually common items encountered in everyday life such as substances from insects, animals or plants (such as pollen). Allergy: An unusual response to a small amount of a foreign substance that […]

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on asthma in adults. Books American Lung Association: The Asthma Handbook. American Lung Association, New York, 1992. 24 pages. Bush RK and Georgitis JW. Handbook of Asthma and Rhinitis. Blackwell Science, Malden, MA, 1997. 270 pages. ISBN: 0-86542-433-0. Gershwin ME and Klingelhofer EL. Asthma: Stop

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on asthma in children. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 1-800-727-8462 http://www.aafa.org Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA)  Phone: 1- 800-878-4403 http://www.aanma.org National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases http://www.niaid.nih.gov American Lung Association  Phone: 1-800-586-4872 http://www.lungusa.org

Asthma is a condition that affects the air passages in the lungs. These air passages are made up of thousands of tiny tubes that bring the air in and out of the lungs. It’s a two-step problem: When a child has asthma, the air passages are inflamed, which means they are red and swollen. The

A number of “triggers” can bring on an asthma episode. These can vary from child to child. They include: Respiratory infections Exercise and sports Weather Irritants and pollutants Certain medications and foods Allergies Stress Certain health problems Respiratory Infections Respiratory-tract infections, such as the common cold and flu, can make asthma worse. How To Information

It is very important to work closely with the doctor in getting control of the asthma. If you ever feel that the treatment is not going well, don’t be embarrassed to say so. The doctor will: Give you advice about avoiding the things that cause attacks. Prescribe medication to control inflammation. Prescribe “rescue” medication to

Parents should make sure that the child plays an important part in managing his or her own asthma. For example: Small children (even 6- and 7-year olds) should know the names of the their medications, and how the medicine helps. All children over the age of 4 or 5 should know what triggers their attacks,

The peak flow meter is an important device that can give you valuable information about your child’s air passages – whether air is passing through freely, or whether they are partially blocked. The meter measures how fast the child is able to breathe into it. This measurement is known as the “peak flow.” Most children

Medicines are taken daily, whether or not symptoms occur, to prevent asthma attacks. The goal of these medications is to reduce the inflammation in the air passages. They are therefore called anti-inflammatory medications. These medicines need to be taken even when there are no obvious symptoms of asthma. They are particularly helpful in preventing asthma

The safest and most effective way of opening up the air passages in the lungs when an attack is about to start or has started is by using medications called bronchodilators. They are the “rescue medications.” These medicines are taken as soon as coughing or wheezing starts. Once the symptoms end, the child may need

The medication given to prevent and treat asthma is usually inhaled, because it gets directly to the lungs, where it is needed. Depending on the child’s age, there are several different devices through which the medicine can be inhaled: Through an inhaler. An inhaler is a device in which the medication is contained in a small