Asthma in Children Summary Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. In the United States, about 20 million people have asthma. Nearly 9 million of them are children. Children have smaller airways than adults, which makes asthma especially serious for them. Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night. Many things can cause asthma, including Allergens – mold, pollen, animals Irritants – cigarette smoke, air pollution Weather – cold air, changes in weather Exercise Infections – flu, common cold When asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack. Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Reference Desk Allergy and Asthma Health Magazine American Association for Respiratory Care Find an Expert American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology American Lung Association American Lung Association Asthma Information Links National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Find an Allergist/Immunologist American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Lung HelpLine and Tobacco QuitLine American Lung Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Start Here Asthma National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Asthma Basics Nemours Foundation Childhood Asthma American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology For Parents of Children with Asthma American Lung Association Managing Asthma: Learning to Breathe Easier National Institutes of Health Pediatric Asthma National Jewish Health Children Asthma Nemours Foundation Dealing with Asthma Triggers Nemours Foundation What’s an Asthma Flare-Up? Nemours Foundation Teenagers Asthma Nemours Foundation How Can I Deal with My Asthma? Nemours Foundation How to Avoid the ER If You Have Asthma Nemours Foundation Smoking and Asthma (For Teens) Nemours Foundation Related Issues Asthma & Physical Activity in the School National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Asthma and Food Allergies American Academy of Pediatrics Can the Weather Affect My Child’s Asthma? Nemours Foundation Do Allergies Cause Asthma? Nemours Foundation Exercise and Asthma American Academy of Pediatrics If My Child Has Asthma, Can We Keep Our Pet? Nemours Foundation Array Asthma – child – discharge Asthma – children Asthma – control drugs Asthma – quick-relief drugs Asthma and school Exercise-induced asthma Exercising and asthma at school How to breathe when you are short of breath How to use a nebulizer How to use an inhaler – no spacer How to use an inhaler – with spacer Ozone, Air Quality, and Asthma (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Signs of an asthma attack Encyclopedia Asthma – what to ask your doctor – child How to use your peak flow meter Make peak flow a habit! Stay away from asthma triggers Traveling with breathing problems Wheezing Living With Asthma Diary Nemours Foundation Children and Asthma: The Goal Is Control Food and Drug Administration Help Your Child Gain Control Over Asthma Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division Inhaler or Nebulizer: Which One Should My Child Use? Nemours Foundation Teaching Your Child about Asthma American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology What’s a Peak Flow Meter? Nemours Foundation What’s an Asthma Action Plan? Nemours Foundation When to Go to the ER if Your Child Has Asthma Nemours Foundation Treatments and Therapies Asthma Inhalers American Academy of Pediatrics Asthma Medicines: Long-Term Control American Academy of Pediatrics Asthma Medicines: Quick Relief American Academy of Pediatrics Treating Asthma in Children Ages 12 and Older Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Treating Asthma in Children Ages 5 to 11 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Treating Asthma in Children under 5 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Treating Asthma with Inhaled Steroids Consumers Union of U.S. What If My Child Doesn’t Take His or Her Asthma Medication? Nemours Foundation Health Check Tools Asthma Quiz American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Quiz American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Prevention and Risk Factors Asthma Triggers and What to Do about Them American Academy of Pediatrics Creating an Asthma-Safe Home Nemours Foundation Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology What’s an Asthma Flare-Up? Nemours Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Asthma in Children National Institutes of Health Diagnosis and Tests Diagnosing Asthma American Academy of Pediatrics Diagnosing Asthma in Very Young Children American Academy of Pediatrics Pulmonary Function Testing in Children American Thoracic Society Wheezing and Asthma in Infants Nemours Foundation Videos and Tutorials Enviromysteries: Inside Stories: Thomas’ Story Array Know How to Use Your Asthma Inhaler Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Virtual Allergist American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Specifics Exercise-Induced Asthma Nemours Foundation Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Mild, Moderate, Severe Asthma: What Do Grades Mean? American Academy of Pediatrics Genetics Genetics Home Reference: allergic asthma National Library of Medicine Statistics and Research Impact of Food Allergy on Asthma in Children American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Personalizing the Approach to Childhood Asthma American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Predicting Asthma in Preschool Children with Asthma-Like Symptoms American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Games Lungtropolis: Where Kids with Asthma Learn to Play American Lung Association Images Metered dose inhaler use – slideshow Nebulizer use – slideshow Peak flow meter use – slideshow Spacer use – slideshow NIH MedlinePlus Magazine NIH Research: “The Public Wants Diseases Cured…” Journal Articles Asthma in Children Latest News Many Parents Ill-Informed about Kids’ Asthma Meds HealthDay Severe Asthma in Childhood Linked to COPD Risk Later HealthDay Fewer Inhaled Steroids May Be OK for Asthmatic Children HealthDay
