The Facts About Asthma
by Sarat Susarla, MD
Board Certified in Pediatric Pulmonology, Sleep Medicine, and Pediatrics
Why worry if your child has a cough? Many self-limiting infections can trigger a cough, which will usually resolve within 7-10 days.
But when respiratory symptoms like cough are chronic or become associated with other problems like wheezing and shortness of breath, it’s time to consider asthma.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition associated with inflammation of the airways, making it hard to breathe. It often starts in childhood, although it affects people of all ages.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, between 80 and 90 percent of children develop symptoms by age 4 or 5.
And according to a 2010 National Health Interview Survey by the Centers for Disease Control, 7 million U.S. children (10%) aged 17 years and under have asthma.
Asthma seems to be on the rise, although the medical community isn’t sure if this is simply because we’re better at diagnosing the disease or whether it’s due to changes in our environment. Asthma is often confused with infections like bronchitis, which often present in a similar way.
Remarkably, rates of hospitalization and emergency room visits in children have not decreased in the past 10 years, despite the availability of highly effective preventative medication.
Asthma can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children. A combination of symptoms; family history (due to genetic factors); and lung function testing are helpful in reaching a diagnosis.
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed with medication.
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