Asthma causes wheezing and difficulty breathing. Severe attacks can be life-threatening, and treatment can take a long time. Learn about the correct treatment and care.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, resulting in paroxysmal narrowing of the airways, causing recurring coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may improve or disappear spontaneously or with treatment, but in rare cases, it can lead to death.
Basically, it is chronic inflammation of the airways, which causes airway hyperresponsiveness.
Factors that affect airway hyperresponsiveness include cold air, smoke from cigarettes and fireworks, and changes in weather.
The diagram below shows the changes in the airways of asthmatics compared with those of normal people.
Diagnosis
For clinical diagnosis, it is important to confirm recurrent paroxysmal wheezing and dyspnea, reversible airflow limitation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation, as well as to exclude diseases other than asthma. In practice, diagnosis is based on allergic predisposition (whether there is a family history of allergic diseases), clinical symptoms (cough, wheezing), physical examination findings, and test results such as allergy tests.
Cause
In children, there is a type of asthma known as atopic asthma, which is often caused by allergens such as house dust and house mites. Non-atopic asthma can also be caused by tobacco, fireworks smoke, weather changes, exercise, etc. However, in reality, multiple causes are often involved.
Treatment method
I greatly distribute it, and treatment includes management, two of the treatment of the ② attack for ① long term. Depending on disease severity of the asthma, I am divided into four phases, and, as for long-term management, a leukotrienes receptor antagonist, an inhalational steroid are used about each stage.
In addition, as for the treatment of the attack, inhalation, internal use, the patch of the bronchodilator are used. In addition, general attack precaution includes physical training (campaign for swimming, exercise), the training (chill bath, Inui cloth friction) of the autonomic nerve function.
Long-term management plan for childhood asthma
The diagram below shows a long-term asthma management plan. It is divided into two major categories based on age, and each category is further divided into four stages based on severity.
Under 5 years old
6 to 15 years old
Prevention method
Above all, it’s important to reduce dust mites and house dust in the room.
This will not only help prevent asthma, but it will also help prevent asthma attacks in children who already have it.
There are other ways to do this, such as installing hardwood floors or using anti-mite futons, but the basics are to regularly air out and clean your futon.
After airing out your futon, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any mites.
In such cases, call an ambulance
Approximately 40 children die each year from childhood asthma.
Extremely high respiratory rate, difficulty breathing, slow exhalation, cyanosis (purple face), and rib cage recession with each breath.
If any of these symptoms occur, do not hesitate to call an ambulance.
Care at home
Ask about how to care for your pet if a seizure occurs
When a seizure occurs, parents inevitably panic, but taking appropriate measures can prevent the condition from worsening. Treatment methods vary depending on the severity of the condition, so be sure to ask your child’s doctor about what to do in certain situations. There are also simple devices available for inhaling medication at home.
Keep them ready to use whenever a seizure occurs.
It’s also important to exercise
Don’t be overly protective of your child just because they have asthma and are physically weak.
When they’re feeling well, dress them warmly and let them get some moderate exercise. Dry friction can also be effective.
However, children who also suffer from atopic dermatitis should not be subjected to friction.