What is Childhood Asthma?
Asthma is the same lung disease that adults get, but kids often have different symptoms. Doctors also call this pediatric asthma.
If your child has asthma, their lungs and airways can easily become inflamed when they have a cold or are around things like pollen. The symptoms may make it difficult for your child to do everyday activities or sleep. Sometimes an asthma attack can result in a trip to the hospital.
There is no cure for asthma in children, but you can work with your child's doctor to treat it and prevent lung damage.
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| Childhood Asthma |
Medical terms
Childhood asthma is a disease that affects millions of children each year. It is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Asthma can range from mild to severe, and can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications, and treatments from a healthcare provider.
Childhood asthma is a chronic condition affecting a large portion of children world-wide. It is estimated that around 300 million individuals are affected by it. The symptoms of childhood asthma can include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. There can also be chest tightness and difficulty in sleeping due to the difficulty in breathing.
In childhood asthma,the lungs and airways become simply inflamed once exposed to sure triggers, comparable to breathing spores or catching a chilly or alternative metabolism infection. Childhood asthma attacks will cause irritating daily symptoms that interfere with play, sports, college and sleep. In some kids, unmanaged asthma can cause dangerous asthma attacks. Childhood asthma isn't a distinct disease from asthma in adults, however children face unique challenges. The condition could be a leading reason for emergency department visits, hospitalizations and incomprehensible school days. Unfortunately, childhood asthma can't be cured, and symptoms can continue into adulthood. however with the right treatment, you and your kid will keep symptoms in check and stop harm to growing lungs.
increasing in UK Latest figures published by Asthma UK indicate a rise in the number of children with asthma in the UK The charity has said that over the past ten years there has been a 28% increase among under-18 year olds More than one million young people are now receiving treatment for asthma and it is estimated that around 775,000 youngsters currently have an inhaler in their school bag Some doctors believe that recent changes to safety guidelines - which permit high street pharmacies to sell larger quantities of Ventolin from behind the pharmacy counter - may be contributing to higher figures However others dispute this and claim that a lack of.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs The inflammation causes the airways to become narrower and produces extra mucus that can make breathing extremely difficult for an asthma sufferer Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalization among children according to study in "Pediatrics," and its prevalence has grown by 20 percent over the last decade with approximately 5 million kids now suffering from asthma symptoms.
Symptoms Childhood Asthma
In kids, asthma attack symptoms will embody coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. “Often, children can’t describe to themselves what they’re feeling, however they'll say they feel pain in their chest once they run, for example,” says Alia Bazzy-Asaad, MD, director of the asthma attack Program at Yale Medicine. Some children with asthma have a chronic cough that doesn’t go away. This is often called cough variant asthma. In young children, respiration louder or quicker than traditional may additionally be a symbol of asthma.
Common childhood asthma signs and symptoms include:
Frequent coughing that worsens when your child has a viral infection, occurs while your child is asleep or is triggered by exercise or cold air
A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing out
Shortness of breath
Chest congestion or tightness
Childhood asthma might also cause:
Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Bouts of coughing or wheezing that get worse with a cold or the flu
Delayed recovery or bronchitis after a respiratory infection
Trouble breathing that hampers play or exercise
Fatigue, which can be due to poor sleep
Asthma signs and symptoms vary from kid to child, and would possibly worsen or higher over time. Your child might need only 1 indication, love a lingering cough or chest congestion. It may be troublesome to inform whether or not your child' symptoms are caused by asthma. Periodic or long wheezy and alternative asthma-like symptoms can be caused by infectious respiratory disorder or another metastasis problem.
When to see a doctor
Take your kid to examine the doctor if you believe he or she has respiratory disease. Early treatment can facilitate management symptoms and presumably forestall asthma attacks. create an arrangement together with your child' doctor if you notice:
Coughing that is constant, is intermittent or seems linked to physical activity
Wheezing or whistling sounds when your child breathes out
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Complaints of chest tightness
Repeated episodes of suspected bronchitis or pneumonia
When to seek emergency treatment
In severe cases, you might see your child's chest and sides pulling inward as he or she struggles to breathe. Your child might have an increased heartbeat, sweating and chest pain. Seek emergency care if your child:
Has to stop in mid sentence to catch his or her breath
Is using abdominal muscles to breathe
Has widened nostrils when breathing in
Is trying so hard to breathe that the abdomen is sucked under the ribs when he or she breathes in
Even if your child hasn't been diagnosed with asthma, seek medical attention immediately if he or she has trouble breathing. Although episodes of asthma vary in severity, asthma attacks can start with coughing, which progresses to wheezing and labored breathing.
Causes Childhood Asthma
Childhood asthma causes aren't fully understood. Some factors thought to be involved include:
Inherited tendency to develop allergies
Parents with asthma
Some types of airway infections at a very young age
Exposure to environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke or other air pollution
Increased immune system sensitivity causes the lungs and airways to swell and produce mucus when exposed to certain triggers. Reaction to a trigger can be delayed, making it more difficult to identify the trigger. Triggers vary from child to child and can include:
Viral infections such as the common cold
Exposure to air pollutants, such as tobacco smoke
Allergies to dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mold
Physical activity
Weather changes or cold air
Sometimes, asthma symptoms occur with no apparent triggers.
Risk factors Childhood Asthma
Factors that might increase your child's likelihood of developing asthma include:
Exposure to tobacco smoke, including before birth
Previous allergic reactions, including skin reactions, food allergies or hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
A family history of asthma or allergies
Living in an area with high pollution
Obesity
Respiratory conditions, such as a chronic runny or stuffy nose (rhinitis), inflamed sinuses (sinusitis) or pneumonia
Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
Being male
Being black or Puerto Rican
Complications Childhood Asthma
Asthma can cause a number of complications, including:
Severe asthma attacks that require emergency treatment or hospital care
Permanent decline in lung function
Missed school days or getting behind in school
Poor sleep and fatigue
Symptoms that interfere with play, sports or other activities
Prevention Childhood Asthma
Careful planning and avoiding asthma triggers are the best ways to prevent asthma attacks.
Limit exposure to asthma triggers. Help your child avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger asthma symptoms.
Don't allow smoking around your child. Exposure to tobacco smoke throughout infancy could be a sturdy risk issue for childhood bronchial asthma, further as a typical trigger of asthma attacks.
Encourage your child to be active. As long as your child's asthma is well-controlled, regular physical activity can help the lungs to work more efficiently.
See the doctor when necessary. Check in regularly. Don't ignore signs that your child's bronchial asthma won't be under control, resembling desperate to use a quick-relief inhaler too often. bronchial asthma changes over time. Consulting your child' doctor will assist you create required treatment changes to stay symptoms under control.
Help your child maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms, and it puts your child at risk of other health problems.
Keep heartburn under control. Acid reflux or severe pyrosis (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) may worsen your child's bronchial asthma symptoms. He or she might like over-the-counter or prescription medications to manage acid reflux.
Can childhood asthma go away?
Yes Childhood asthma can go away but recovery is unlikely without treatment Untreated asthma can lead to permanent damage in the respiratory system Fortunately there are a number of treatment options for childhood asthma that include inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators such as Advair Diskus (fluticasone/salmeterol) and ProAir HFA (albuterol) The best way to prevent both chronic and acute flare-ups of asthma is through compliance with your child’s medical therapy In addition limiting exposure to allergens and irritants like secondhand smoke dust from.
At what age does childhood asthma start?
The exact cause of asthma is unknown It is usually considered a chronic disease however it sometimes occurs in childhood which can lead to deterioration in lung function and other health issues leading to premature death if not treated Children suffering from asthma have uncontrolled breathing that results from severe wheezing coughing or both The condition can be hard to manage because of the many triggers involved such as allergens and irritants present in the environment that triggers asthmatic attacks.
Is childhood asthma common?
An estimated 9 percent of children worldwide have asthma In the United States as many as 7 million people might be affected by childhood asthma every year Asthma is a serious condition that can be life-threatening if not treated well The incidence and prevalence of childhood asthma has increased over the past few years especially among young children aged 4 to 11 years old living in urban settings and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds While boys are more likely than girls to develop the condition it affects both males and females equally.
Which child is at greatest risk for developing asthma?
Children who have a family history of asthma tuberous sclerosis complex and those with eczema are at greatest risk for developing asthma Asthma is also more common in the urban poor and children living in colder climates When a child has two or more of these risk factors he is at highest risk for developing this chronic disease.
Diagnosis Childhood Asthma
Asthma will be arduous to diagnose. Your kid' doctor can take into account the symptoms and their frequency and your child's medical history. Your child would possibly like tests to rule out different conditions and to spot the foremost seemingly reason for the symptoms. a variety of childhood conditions will have symptoms the same as those caused by respiratory disease. To complicate the difficulty further, these conditions additionally normally occur with asthma. Therefore your child' doctor will ought to verify whether or not your child's symptoms are caused by asthma, a condition but asthma, or each asthma and another condition.
Conditions that can cause asthma-like symptoms include:
Rhinitis
Sinusitis
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Airway abnormalities
Dysfunctional breathing
Respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
The following are tests your child might need.
Your child’s asthma may have improved by the time you get to the doctor’s office. You are an important part of the diagnosis process. The doctor will likely ask about your child’s symptoms and how they have been changing. A diagnosis will include a review of your child’s history and clinical signs.
Questions about your medical history and symptoms.Your doctor will ask about any problems your child has with breathing, as well as any family history of asthma, allergies, or other respiratory diseases. You should describe your child's symptoms in detail, including when and how often they occur.
Physical exam.Your doctor will listen to your child's heart and lungs, and if they hear any abnormalities, they may also look in their nose or eyes for signs of allergies.
Tests. Your child might have a chest X-ray, a simple lung test called spirometry, or other tests to find out how severe their asthma is. Tests may be performed to determine the cause of asthma. These can include allergy skin testing, blood tests to measure levels of IgE or RAST, and X-rays to see if sinus infections or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is causing asthma to worsen. A test that measures the level of nitric oxide (eNO) in your child’s breath can also suggest an inflamed airway.
Lung function tests (spirometry). Doctors diagnose respiratory disorders with a similar take on wanting to establish the disease in adults. Spirometry measures what proportion air your kid will exhale and the way quickly. Your child might need respiratory organ operate tests at rest, when physical exercise and after taking asthma medication. Another lung function test is bronchoprovocation. exploitation spirometry, this test measures how your lungs react to bound provocations, admire exercise or exposure to cold air.
Exhaled nitric oxide test. If the designation of respiratory disorder is unsure when respiratory organs perform tests, your doctor may advocate measurement the extent of gas in an exhaled sample of your kid' breath. Gas testing may also facilitate confirming whether or not steroid medications may be useful for your child' asthma. The asthma tests used, however, aren't correct before five years of age. For younger children, your doctor can accept data you and your child offer about symptoms. generally a diagnosis can't be created till later, after months or maybe years of perceptive symptoms.
Allergy tests for allergic asthma
If your kid looks to possess respiratory disorder that's triggered by allergies, the doctor would possibly advocate allergic reaction skin testing. Throughout a skin test, the skin is pricked with extracts of common allergy-causing substances, like Associate in Nursing Animal dander, mildew or mud mites, and ascertained for signs of an allergic reaction.
Treatment Childhood Asthma
Based on your child's history and asthma severity, their doctor will create an asthma action plan. This document describes when and how your child should use asthma medications, what to do if asthma gets worse, and when to seek emergency care. Make sure you understand this plan! Talk to your child's doctor to plan care and ask any questions you may have.
Your child's asthma action plan is important so you can control their asthma. Keep a copy of the plan handy to remind you of your child's daily management plan, as well as when your child has asthma symptoms. Give copies of the plan to your child's caregivers, teachers, and bus driver. If the child has an asthma attack away from home, they will know what to do.
You should follow your child's asthma action plan, as well as limit their exposure to asthma triggers.
Initial treatment depends on the severity of your kid's bronchial asthma. The goal of asthma treatment is to stay symptoms underneath control, which means that your child has:
Minimal or no symptoms
Few or no asthma flare-ups
No limitations on physical activities or exercise
Minimal use of quick-relief (rescue) inhalers, such as albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others)
Few or no side effects from medications
Treating asthma involves each preventing symptoms associated degreed treating an respiratory disorder in progress. The proper medication for your kid depends on a variety of things, together with age, symptoms, asthma triggers and what looks best to stay his or her asthma under control. For kids younger than age three who have delicate symptoms of asthma, the doctor may use a wait-and-see approach. This is often as a result of the semipermanent effects of asthma medication on babies and young children aren't clear. However, if an infant or shaver has frequent or severe wheezy episodes, a medicine might be prescribed to ascertain if it improves symptoms.
Long-term control medications
Preventive, long-run management medications scale back the inflammation in your child' airways that results in symptoms. In most cases, these medications have to be taken daily.
Types of long-term control medications include:
Inhaled corticosteroids. These medications embrace fluticasone (Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler), mometasone (Asmanex HFA), ciclesonide (Alvesco), beclomethasone (Qvar Redihaler) and others. Your kid would possibly ought to use these medications for many days to weeks before obtaining the complete benefit. semi permanent use of those medications has been related to slightly slowed growth in children, however the impact is minor. In most cases, the advantages of excellent asthma attack management outweigh the risks of doable aspect effects.
Leukotriene modifiers. These oral medications embrace montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo). They assist in stopping respiratory disorder symptoms for up to twenty four hours.
Combination inhalers. These medications contain an inhaled steroid hormone and a long beta agonist (LABA). They embody fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus, Advair HFA), budesonide and formoterol (Symbicort), fluticasone and vilanterol (Breo Ellipta), and mometasone and formoterol (Dulera). In some situations, long-acting beta agonists are connected to severe respiratory disease attacks. For this reason, LABA medications should incline to a baby with an inhalator that additionally contains a corticosteroid. These combination inhalers should be used just for asthma that's not well-controlled by alternative medications.
Theophylline. This is a daily pill that helps keep the airways open. Elixophyllin (Theo-24) relaxes the muscles round the airways to form respiration easier. It's principally used with inhaled steroids. If you're taking this drug, you ought to have your blood checked regularly.
Immunomodulatory agents. Mepolizumab (Nucala), dupilumab (Dupixent) and benralizumab (Fazenda) may well be acceptable for kids over the age of twelve who have severe leucocyte asthma. Omalizumab (Xolair) can be thought-about for children aged six or older who have moderate to severe allergic asthma.
Quick-relief medications
Quick-relief medications quickly open swollen airways. conjointly referred to as rescue medications, quick-relief medications are used PRN for rapid, short symptom relief throughout Associate in Nursing asthma — or before exercise if your child' doctor recommends it.
Types of quick-relief medications include:
Short-acting beta agonists. These inhaled medication medications will speedily ease symptoms throughout a respiratory disorder attack. They embrace Ventolin (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others) and levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA). These medications act at intervals of minutes, and effects last many hours.
Oral and intravenous corticosteroids. These medications relieve airway inflammation caused by severe respiratory disease. Examples embrace Liquid Pred and methylprednisolone. they'll cause serious facet effects once used long term, thus they're solely accustomed to treat severe asthma symptoms on a short-run basis.
Treatment for allergy-induced asthma
If your child's asthma is triggered or worsened by allergies, your child might benefit from allergy treatment, such as the following, as well:
Omalizumab (Xolair). This medication is for folks that have allergies and severe asthma. It reduces the immune system' reaction to allergy-causing substances, equivalent to pollen, dirt mites and pet dander. Xolair is delivered by injection each 2 to four weeks.
Allergy medications. These include oral and nasal spray antihistamines and decongestants as well as corticosteroid, cromolyn and ipratropium nasal sprays.
Allergy shots (immunotherapy). Immunotherapy injections are typically given once per week for many months, then once a month for an amount of 3 to 5 years. Over time, they step by step scale back your child's system reaction to specific allergens.
Don't rely only on quick-relief medications
Long-term bronchial asthma control medications reminiscent of indrawn corticosteroids are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. These medications keep asthma in restraint ANd create it less probably that your kid can have an asthma attack. If your child will have an asthma flare-up, a quick-relief (rescue) dispenser will ease symptoms right away. However, if semipermanent control medications are operating properly, your child shouldn't have to use a quick-relief inhaler terribly often. Keep a record of what number puffs your child uses every week. If he or she often must use a quick-relief inhaler, take your child to examine the doctor. you most likely got to change the semipermanent management medication.
Inhaled medication devices
Inhaled short- and long-term control medications are used by inhaling a measured dose of medication.
Older children and teens might use a small, hand-held device called a pressurized metered dose inhaler or an inhaler that releases a fine powder.
Infants and toddlers need to use a face mask attached to a metered dose inhaler or a nebulizer to get the correct amount of medication.
Babies need to use a tool that turns liquid medication into fine droplets (nebulizer). Your baby wears a mask and breathes commonly whereas the nebulizer delivers the proper dose of medication.
Asthma action plan
Work along with your kid' doctor to make a written respiratory illness action set up. This could be a very important part of treatment, particularly if your child has severe asthma. associate degree asthma action plan can assist you and your child:
Recognize when you need to adjust long-term control medications
Determine how well treatment is working
Identify the signs of an asthma attack and know what to do when one occurs
Know when to call a doctor or seek emergency help
Children who have enough coordination and understanding would possibly use a hand-held device to live however well they'll breathe (peak flow meter). A written respiratory illness action arrangement can assist you and your kid keep in mind what to try to do once peak flow measurements reach an exact level. The action plan might use peak flow measurements and symptoms to reason your child' asthma into zones, akin to the inexperienced zone, yellow zone and red zone. These zones correspond to well-controlled symptoms, somewhat-controlled symptoms and poorly controlled symptoms. This makes following your child' asthma easier. Your child' symptoms and triggers are probably to alter over time. You'll have to be compelled to observe symptoms and work with the doctor to regulate medications as needed. If your child' symptoms are utterly controlled for a time, your child's doctor would possibly advocate lowering doses or stopping respiratory illness medications (step-down treatment). If your child' asthma isn't as well-controlled, the doctor might wish to increase, change or add medications (step-up treatment).
Lifestyle and home remedies
Taking steps to scale back your child' exposure to respiratory disease triggers will reduce the chance of asthma attacks. Steps to assist avoid triggers vary counting on what triggers your child' asthma. Here are some things that will help:
Maintain low humidity at home. If you live in a damp climate, talk to your child's doctor about using a device to keep the air drier (dehumidifier).
Keep indoor air clean. Have a heating and air-con expert check your air conditioning system each year. amendment the filters in your chamber and cooling in line with the manufacturer' instructions. conjointly take into account putting in a small-particle filter in your ventilation system.
Reduce pet dander. If your kid is allergic to dander, it's best to avoid pets with fur or feathers. If you have got pets, often bathing or grooming your pets additionally may cut back the quantity of dander. Keep pets out of your child' room.
Use your air conditioner. Air conditioning helps scale back the number of mobile spores from trees, grasses and weeds that find its approach indoors. air-con additionally lowers indoor humidity and may reduce your child' exposure to dirt mites. If you don't have air conditioning, attempt to keep your windows closed throughout pollen season.
Keep dust to a minimum. Reduce dirt that may irritate nighttime symptoms by exchanging sure things in your bedroom. For example, include pillows, mattresses and box springs in dustproof covers. Think about removing floor cover and putting in exhausting flooring, notably in your child' bedroom. Use washable curtains and blinds.
Clean regularly. Clean your home at least once a week to remove dust and allergens.
Reduce your child's exposure to cold air. If your child's asthma is worsened by cold, dry air, wearing a face mask outside can help.
Alternative medicine
While some various remedies are used for asthma, in most cases additional analysis is required to envision however well they work and to see attainable aspect effects. various treatments to think about include:
Breathing techniques. These embrace structured respiratory programs, like the Buteyko breathing technique, the Papworth technique and yoga breathing exercises (pranayama).
Relaxation techniques. Techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation might help with asthma by reducing tension and stress.
Herbal remedies and supplements. A few flavored remedies are tried for asthma, together with black seed, animal oil and magnesium. However, additional studies are required to assess their profit and safety. Herbs and supplements can have aspect effects and might act with different medications your kid is taking. sit down with your child' doctor before making any herbal or supplements.
Coping and support
It is trying to assist your kid manage asthma. Keep the following tips in mind to form life as traditional as possible:
Make treatment a regular part of life. If your child has to take daily medication, don't make a big deal out of it — it should be as routine as eating breakfast or brushing teeth.
Use a written asthma action plan. Work along with your kid' doctor to develop your child's action set up, and provide a duplicate to any or all of your child's caregivers, similar to child care providers, teachers, coaches and therefore the elders of your child' friends. Following a written plan will assist you and your child establish symptoms early, providing necessary data on the way to treat your child's respiratory illness from day to day and the way to treat an asthma attack.
Be encouraging. Focus attention on what your kid will do, not on limitations. Involve teachers, college nurses, coaches, relatives and friends in serving your child to manage asthma. Encourage traditional play and activity. Don't limit your child' activities out of concern of a respiratory disease — work together with your child's doctor to regulate exercise-induced symptoms.
Be calm and in control. Don't get perturbed if respiratory disease symptoms worsen. concentrate on your kid' asthma action plan, and involve your child in every step in order that he or she understands what's happening.
Talk to other parents of children with asthma. Chat rooms and message boards on the internet or a local support group can connect you with parents facing similar challenges.
Help your child connect with others who have asthma. Send your child to "asthma camp" or find other organized activities for children with asthma. This can help your child feel less isolated and gain a better understanding of asthma and its treatment.
Preparing for your appointment
You're seemingly going to start out by taking your kid to your GP or your child' pediatrician. However, once you decide to line up AN appointment, you'll be mentioned as an allergist, respiratory organ doctor (pulmonologist) or alternative specialist. Here' some info to assist you make preparations for your child' appointment.
What you can do
Make a list of:
Your child's symptoms, how severe they're and once they occur. Note once symptoms trouble your kid most — for example, if symptoms tend to be worse at times of the day; throughout certain seasons; when your child is exposed to cold air, spores or other triggers; or when he or she is enjoying onerous or taking part in sports.
Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes your child has had.
All medications, vitamins and supplements your child takes, including doses.
Write down questions to ask the doctor.
For asthma or asthma-like symptoms, questions to ask your doctor include:
Is asthma the most likely cause of my child's breathing problems?
What else could be causing my child's symptoms?
What tests does my child need?
Is my child's condition likely temporary or chronic?
What treatment do you suggest?
My child has these other health conditions. How can we best manage them together?
Are there restrictions my child needs to follow?
Should my child see a specialist?
Are there brochures or other printed materials I can have? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions.
What to expect from your child's doctor
The doctor is likely to ask questions, including:
When did you notice your child's symptoms?
Does your child have difficulty breathing most of the time or only at certain times or in certain situations?
Does your child have allergies such as hay fever?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your child's symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your child's symptoms?
Do allergies or asthma run in your child's family?
General summary
Childhood asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder that affects millions of children in the United States. It is characterized by persistent coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. In some cases, it can also be accompanied by chest tightness and lower energy levels. Asthma in children is often triggered by environmental factors such as air pollution, dust, and pollen.
Childhood asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects children of all ages. It is a very common condition and affects almost 10% of all children. Symptoms of asthma include difficulty in breathing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and a characteristic whistling sound when breathing out. The main cause of childhood asthma is not known, but it is believed to be triggered by various environmental factors, including air pollution, dust, and other allergens.
Asthma can be a crippling disease but there are many treatments available to help people with asthma manage the condition The goals of treatment are to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms so that patients can live more normal lives.