What are the various signs of the onset of asthma in children?

Asthma is one of the most common ailments in Ireland, and it would appear that the number of people, particularly children, suffering from the problem is growing. Already, the HSE says that 470,000 Irish people have some form of asthma, from a population of 4.5 million, and as many as 20% of Irish children alone are suffering from the ailment. This number goes up to 1 out of 3 in the under-five age group. 

In order to catch the problem early if you have a small child, it’s important to be able to spot the signs of asthma. Once done, nearly all forms of asthma can be treated quite simply, as the majority of cases are mild, and a good number even fade away by the time child reaches the later stages of primary school.

What is Asthma?

Put simply, asthma is the inflammation or tightening of the airways that carry breath to and from the lungs. In milder cases, these airways constrict or close, limiting the amount of breath carried to the lungs and triggering most of the symptoms which will be discussed below. In more severe cases, mucus will develop on the lining of the airways, along with contraction of the muscle, making it more difficult to relieve the effects of the attack. In such cases, medical assistance is often necessary. 

These reactions can be caused by any number of triggers, such as cold air, household dust, aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke, even everyday exercise or plant pollen. Diet has also been linked to asthma, as have home environments that are too sterile and so leave children without the immunity to fight off otherwise harmless elements. 

What to Look Out For

Coughing in unusual circumstances is usually listed first as the number one sign of the onset of asthma. For example, if you notice that your child is coughing in the night, at the end of a laugh, or maybe in the normal course of outdoor play, then there is the possibility that they have developed a mild case of the condition. If this situation continues longer than a few days, then a GP check-up is recommended. If colds typically rest in the chest or last longer than ten days, the same applies.

Other symptoms include complaints of tightness in the chest or a “whistling”/wheezing sound in the same area. Remember that healthy children aged ten and under should be able to run rings around most adults, so if they are getting out of breath or more tired than has previously been the case, and without any particularly obvious cause, then it is worth getting a medical opinion on the matter. 

Diagnosis

Doctors will typically look for the aforementioned signs, but they will also be interested to know if there is a family history of the condition, as well as the frequency and duration of the symptoms. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to keep a home record from the time that symptoms are first noticed in order to ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible.

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy