Asthma
This is becoming more common in young children with 1.4 million aged two to 15 having the condition, according to latest statistics from the National Asthma Campaign.
Asthma is very difficult to diagnose in the under-fives as so many children suffer some sort of wheeziness or chest infection in early childhood. Also, the diagnostic tool used to diagnose the condition, a peak flow meter, is unsuitable for children under six. So your GP will probably ask you to keep a record of symptoms and what triggers them over a period of time before a diagnosis can be confirmed.
What is asthma?
It's a condition which affects the airways that carry air into and away from the lungs. In people with asthma these airways are particularly sensitive, becoming irritated and narrowed by certain substances or 'triggers' including colds and flu, smoke, pollen, pet dust and house dust mites. The lining of the airways then produce sticky mucus, making it difficult for air to pass in and out and causing the classic wheezing sound.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of asthma in young children are:
- Coughing, particularly at night and after exercise
- Wheezing or a whistling, crackling sound in the chest
- Shortness of breath, particularly when active
What treatments are available?
Treating asthma as soon as it's diagnosed will help avoid long term lung damage, so your GP will prescribe the following medications:
- Relievers - these are inhaled medicines used during an attack that help relax the muscles around the airways so the child can breathe more easily again. Medicines your child might be prescribed include Ventolin and Bricanyl
- Preventors - also inhalers, these are taken daily to stop the airways being over-sensitive so they don't react as badly when they encounter an asthma trigger. Most preventors contain steroids but these are not the same as those used by athletes and the smallest dose possible is given, acting only on the lungs. Commonly used preventor drugs include Becotide, Pulmicort and Flixotide
The most effective way of giving children under five their medicines is by using an inhaler medicine inside a spacer - a large plastic container in two halves that click together with a mask at one end. The idea is that the medicine mixes with the air inside the chamber and is breathed into the lungs. Your GP or practice nurse should be able to give you some tips on ways of getting your child used to using a spacer.
What to do
If you, your partner or other members of your family have asthma or other allergies, the following steps may help avoid your baby developing it:
- Don't smoke - either during pregnancy or afterwards - and don't let anyone else smoke in your home
- Breastfeed your baby for at least the first four months (to get support from a breastfeeding counsellor, contact the National Childbirth Trust)
- Don't keep furry or feathery pets, at least for the first year of your child's life
- Try to cut down your exposure to known allergens such as house dust mite, pollens, cats during pregnancy and for your baby's first year
- If your child is diagnosed with asthma, build up a better picture of what things trigger attacks and learn ways of avoiding them. You'll also need to get into a routine with any medicines your child has been prescribed and review how well your child's asthma is being controlled from time to time with your GP
