Childhood Asthma Essay

Submitted By tonypadilla3
Words: 1122
Pages: 5
Open Document
In the Unites States, asthma has become more prevalent in children than in adults according to statistics. In 2006, 6.8 million children under the age of eighteen had asthma, 4.1 million of which had an asthma attack, and many had hidden or undiagnosed asthma. Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory condition of the respiratory system in which the airways constrict due to episodes of airway obstruction. This inflammation causes the normal function of the airways to become excessive and over reactive. In order to control this respiratory condition, the parents of asthmatic children should reduce asthma triggers; they should understand the signs and symptoms of asthma, monitor the asthma and take medications to treat it. Asthma attacks occur when the muscle around the bronchi goes into spasm, the bronchi narrow and breathing becomes difficult. Inflammation then swells the lining of the air tubes causing mucous blockage. Signs and symptoms of asthma in children include wheezing, coughing, chest pain, hyperinflation and less stamina during activities. Important signs and symptoms are coughing or wheezing getting worse with respiratory infections and delayed recovery or bronchitis after a respiratory infection. While wheezing is most commonly associated with asthma, not all children with asthma wheeze. A child may have only one sign or symptom and these symptoms may also vary from child to child. A child should be taken to the doctor as soon as possible if any asthmatic symptoms are present. An asthma attack may happen when there is exposure to asthma triggers. Episodes of asthma often are triggered by some condition or stimulus. Common triggers of asthma are exercise, infections, allergies, irritants, weather and emotions. Running can trigger an episode in 80 percent of children with asthma. Respiratory infections, including the flu, can trigger severe episodes. During an allergic reaction, chemicals, such as histamine, are released from specialized cells producing swelling mucus secretion and airway muscle contraction. The allergens involved in childhood asthma are common indoor inhalants such as dust mites, feathers, molds, pets, insects, outdoor inhalants or ingested foods. Foods are much less frequent causes of asthma. Daily exposure to these allergens may result in worsening of asthma. Cigarette smoke, air pollution, strong odors, sprays and fumes are some of the substances which irritate the tissues of the lungs and upper airways. The reaction produced by these irritants can be identical to those produced by allergens. Climate conditions are also trigger factors, many identify cold air as triggering asthma. Emotional factors are not the cause of asthma, though emotional stress can infrequently trigger asthma. Many children with asthma suffer from severe anxiety during an episode as a result of suffocation produced by asthma. Avoiding all of these triggers can reduce the chance of experiencing asthma attacks or symptoms. (1) Asthma in children can be controlled through many ways. The parents of these children can try to reduce the asthma triggers. They should also be able to understand the signs and symptoms of this chronic inflammatory condition. During running, bronchodilator meds taken before exercise can prevent most episodes. With control, most children can participate fully in physical activities. With the trigger of infection, antibiotics are of no benefit for viral infections and therefore may be of little value in an asthma episode. It is important for all children with asthma to get vaccinated for the flu each year. Bronchodilator medication, good hydration, and when indicated, corticosteroids are required to control an asthma episode triggered by viral infections. Irritants must be recognized and avoided. Asthmatic children should limit outdoor time on days with air quality warnings, while ozone levels are peaking in the afternoon and in areas near heavy traffic. An estimated 400 thousand to one million
Show More

Related Documents: Childhood Asthma Essay

Essay Childhood Asthma

Childhood Asthma Tan Huynh Delaware Technical Community College Outline I. Topic Thesis: People will know more information about asthma, cause of it and treatments for your child. II. Body A. What is asthma? 1. Define asthma 2. Asthma is an issue in the US 3. Limited activities 4. Symptoms of asthma B. Cause of asthma heredity, allergy, viruses, and environment 1. Heredity 2. Allergy 3. Viruses 4. Environment 5. Nervous system C. Treatments…

Words 1946 - Pages 8

Essay about Childhood Conditions

Childhood Conditions & Illnesses Introduction: (From Montessori Centre International) Intermittent illness is considered a normal part of childhood while the immune system matures and builds up its defenses against invading organisms. Upper respiratory infections, for infections ASTHMA: With childhood asthma, the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to certain triggers, such as airborne pollen. In other cases, childhood asthma flares up with a cold or other respiratory infection…

Words 767 - Pages 4

Asthma Research Paper

CHILDHOOD ASTHMA Children and Asthma Abstract This paper will discuss the impact asthma has on a child and their family. It will place emphasis on the strains asthma places on the child and their parents. The physiological aspect of asthma as well as its triggers will be reviewed, along with its prevalence in today’s society. I will examine how the five developmental domains of child and adolescent development pertain to asthma. Asthma will also be applied to two family theories; the Family…

Words 2011 - Pages 9

Environment And Human Health

all of this. For example, some would be asthma, lyme disease, allergies, etc. Rapidly developing countries that accelerate in urban growth lack the resources to enforce air-quality standards. One of the most common health issues that Americans deal with is asthma. “Increasing prevalence of asthma in U.S children and adults is a consequence of the increasing urbanization of the population and the diminishing air quality in many regions” (ENV 607). Asthma is a respiratory disorder marked by breathing…

Words 573 - Pages 3

Eczema Research Paper

months. It is usually in childhood and adolescence. In some cases it may last into adulthood. Eczema has tended to be more common in families that have a history of eczema, fever, and asthma; everything is not good for children’s health. In the academic article” Severe Eczema in Infancy Can Predict Asthma Development. A Prospective…

Words 1182 - Pages 5

Asthma Research Paper

people to struggle in breathing is called Asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways in the human body. The inflammation causes the airways to narrow from time to time. Imagine going through your daily life carrying an inhaler with you all the time and constantly worrying about an attack; that’s what people who suffer from Asthma have to deal with. “Around 25.5 million people currently have Asthma and there are more than 3,600 deaths due to Asthma each year in the U.S”(Mayo Clinic). Some…

Words 288 - Pages 2

Cohort A

completed to evaluate the effect of environmental pollen on rates of childhood asthma. Cohort A was recruited from a city with high average air pollen levels, and Cohort B from a low air pollen level city. A total of 1000 children ages 1 to 15 were included in each cohort, and were matched by age and other demographics. At the end of the observation period, data was collected for the overall incidence of asthma, as below: Asthma No asthma Total Cohort A (high pollen) 100 900 1000 Cohort B (low pollen)…

Words 400 - Pages 2

Essay on The Effects of Nature and Nurture in Middle Childhood

“The Effects of Nature and Nurture in Middle Childhood” Middle Childhood is the name given for the age division from 6 to 11 years of a child’s life. They are also known as the “school years.” During this time a child’s health, education, and emotional well being are all undergoing changes. Though not as drastic as the changes they will soon face in adolescence, they are steady, and the impact that nature and nurture will have on these aspects reach far and wide across the many developments…

Words 1243 - Pages 5

Essay about Obesity and Program

Name – Asthma friendly schools Who organises the program – Asthma Foundation Victoria Describe the program – Supports the whole school community in understanding and managing asthma, Schools must implement current and best practices related to asthma, provides schools with resources to educate teachers and students about asthma awareness, students who are asthmatic must complete an asthma action plan. This plan must be followed in the case of an asthma attack Outcome – Learn about asthma and how…

Words 732 - Pages 3

Essay about Fast Food

Asthma, eczema and hay fever may be linked to fast food[->0] Teenagers and young children who eat fast food could be increasing their risk of developing asthma, eczema and hay fever[->1], according to a study published Monday in the British Medical Journal's respiratory journal Thorax[->2]. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [->3](ISAAC) study used written questionnaires completed by 319,196 13- and 14-year-olds from 51 countries and by the parents of 181,631 6- and 7-year-olds…

Words 652 - Pages 3