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Looking For Signs Of Childhood Asthma

It is estimated that nearly 5 million children suffer from childhood asthma in the United States. Asthma is one of the most common childhood diseases and unfortunately there is no cure for it. The only way to handle asthma is to control it and to avoid situations which could bring upon an attack.

The two most common signs of childhood asthma are constant coughing and wheezing. Usually when a child has been running and playing, his breath comes out making a whistling sound which is known as wheezing. Your child can also experience tightness in the chest accompanied by shortness of breath.

Most children who suffer from asthma tend to get more respiratory illnesses than children who do not have asthma. If your child gets a cold, the cold will last longer than normal and it can be quite severe. The severity of a respiratory illness could be a hidden indicator that your child is suffering from asthma. If your child does not demonstrate the classic wheezing symptom associated with asthma, it can be difficult to diagnose asthma in him or her.

Sometimes certain allergies can spark an asthma attack. If your child is allergic to certain types of food, pollen or dust, pay close attention to see whether he or she is experiencing difficulties in breathing or he or she is coughing and wheezing.

If you detect any symptoms of asthma in your child, it is advisable to take your child to a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be done and medical treatment can be given to him or her to bring the childhood asthma under control.