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AsthmaOverview Asthma is a chronic disease in which the passageways that carry air to the lungs become narrowed or blocked. The linings of these airways become irritated, inflamed and swollen. As the airways narrow, symptoms appear. Cough is usually the earliest and sometimes the only symptom of asthma. Other symptoms include wheezing, fast breathing, or ‘labored’ breathing that uses extra muscles from the neck, abdomen and chest to help ‘get air’. Children feel short of breath and may complain of chest tightness. In a severe asthma ‘attack’, emergency treatment may be needed to restore normal breathing. Symptoms vary widely. They may occur only in certain situations, such as with exercise, or may occur daily. Asthma can be controlled by medication and environmental measures. Symptoms may decrease or improve over time. Often children with asthma are especially sensitive to environmental irritants (such as viral infections, cigarette smoke, or particles or chemicals in the air) or allergy triggers (such as dust, animal dander, pollens and molds). Much remains to be learned about the cause and treatment of asthma. However, in most cases treatment can allow a person to live an active life Asthma is a leading cause of chronic illness in childhood. It is responsible for a significant proportion of school days lost because of chronic illness. Asthma is the most frequent admitting diagnosis in children's hospitals. As many as 10 – 15% of boys and 7 – 10% of girls may have asthma at some time during childhood. Asthma has a strong hereditary component.
Other Asthma Pages Clinical Care Guidelines |
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