Children prone to asthma, will usually first experience attacks between the age of 3 and 8 years. This would usually be caused by an allergic reaction to a certain allergen i.e. pollen, house dust, mould, animal hair, smoke, feathers, certain foods or various chemicals and drugs.
Food allergy is a common cause of asthma in those infants born into a family with a history of allergic reactions - as many as 75% of child asthma sufferers have a family history of the disorder. In some instances though, the attacks have other causes i.e. infections, obstruction by a foreign body, psychological stress, physical stress resulting from illness or exposure to cold air. The child may also experience other allergy related symptoms, such as: hay fever, eczema, or skin eruptions (urticaria). In young children the disease occurs twice as often in boys as in girls. During adolescence though, both boys and girls are affected equally.

Asthma attacks

Asthma attacks vary greatly in the way of, symptoms, frequency and duration. They can range from occasional periods of wheezing, slight breathlessness and mild coughing spells to severe attacks that result in total airway obstruction.
Asthma attacks preceded by an upper respiratory infection, usually begin slowly, lasting for a longer period of time. Those caused by allergens seem somewhat sudden, and will subside fairly quickly if the cause is removed.

Typically though, an attack will begin with shortness of breath, wheezing and an irritating cough. Exhaling will take longer as the secretions increase. The cough will become deeper and noisier, and a large quantity of thick mucus will be produced - encourage your child to spit this out and assume a bent over position to ease breathing. If you find that there is a sudden increase in the rate of which he breathes, and the continuing cough does not produce any sputum (meaning a lack of air), you should handle it as a medical emergency.

Treatment

A sudden asthma attack needs direct relief with drugs (i.e. steroids, methylxanthines, expectorants and sedatives) that widen the bronchi and remove excess bronchial secretions. Antibiotics will be used when infection is the cause of an attack. it is important to try and halt the attack, as it can result in status asthmaticus. This is a serious condition requiring hospitalisation.

Children experiencing mild, infrequent attacks are treated with bronchodilators in the form of an aerosol spray . These sprays will offer quick relief and are effective in controlling an attack at onset. Those with persistent asthma will usually receive a combination of a bronchodilator, expectorant and steroid. The parents would also be encouraged to alter the child's environment, so as to lessen contact with the allergen responsible for the attacks. The amount of physical activity may have to be lessened and all emotional problems and psychological stresses reduced and treated.

The prognosis for children with asthma is usually good however it does tend to vary considerably. Many children lose their symptoms at puberty although much will depend on the family history of allergy and the number and severity of the symptoms.


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