Asthma is known to be a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the airways by causing reversible, recurrent airway obstruction. The airway becomes inflamed leading to airway hypersensitivity making the airways narrow. This mostly causes due to different stimuli like cold air, exercise, allergens, etc.
Some of the common symptoms would include:
- Difficulty in breathingWheezing
- Coughing
- Poor exercise endurance
- Chest tightness
Treatment
Refer your child to a paediatrician in Chandigarh when the symptoms become severe. Medications will be prescribed to control the asthma attack. They can also help in reducing the symptoms. Depending on several factors, the doctor may take the treatment to a higher dose by incorporating another form of medication.
Long-term Control Medications
They are also called maintenance medications as they are used on a long-term basis to control the symptoms of asthma in children. These medications are usually prescribed seasonally as the symptoms may aggravate at certain times in every year.
Some of the medications are:
- Leukotriene modifiers
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Theophylline
- Combination inhalers
Rescue Medications
These medications are used for providing immediate relief to the condition. The effect lasts for about 4 to 6 hours. Some of the drugs included in this category are:
- Levalbuterol
- Albuterol
These drugs work very fast but aren’t capable of keeping the symptoms from occurring again. Hence, maintenance medications come into the picture.
You may have to control your child’s asthma when he/she has to use rescue medications way too often. If you rely just on rescue medications, you may be putting your child at a risk of having severe asthma attacks in the future. Hence, make the necessary changes in the treatment plan after consulting with a doctor. Asthma attacks are treated using oral or injectable corticosteroids, and rescue medications together.
Asthma medications are normally administered using a delivery device that allows the child to breathe it into the lungs directly. Some of these devices are:
- Nebulizer
- Dry powder inhalers
- Metered dose inhaler
Preventing asthma is also very important for your child. Try to keep your child away from cold weather, cigarette smoke, dampness, mold, cockroaches, or allergens that might trigger an asthma attack.
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