 Asthma: Management and Treatment
|
|
 |
|
Asthma
|
|
|
|
How your child's doctor decides to treat his or her asthma will depend on several things:
|
|
|
- your child's age
- your child's overall health and medical history
- the severity of your child's asthma
- your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- your opinion or preference as the parent
|
|
Currently, there is no cure for asthma. However, it can be "treated," or controlled through:
|
|
|
- Measurement of lung function (spirometry, oximeters, peak flow expiratory flow rate) to assess the severity of the asthma, and to monitor the course of treatment.
- Medication therapy to reverse and prevent airway inflammation, and to treat the narrowing airways.
- Environmental control to help avoid or eliminate asthma triggers.
- Patient education that includes the child, parent, other family members, and the doctor or other health care providers working together to learning more about the child's asthma and how to manage it.
|
Children with asthma and their parents can learn to identify and avoid the things that trigger episodes of asthma, and educate themselves about medications and other asthma management strategies. According to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:
"Asthma is a chronic disease. It has to be cared for all the time - not just when symptoms are present."
How to manage asthma:
- Identify and avoid your asthma triggers as much as possible.
- Take your medications regularly, as prescribed.
- Monitor your asthma and know the signs of it getting worse.
- Ask for an Asthma Management Plan to help you know what to do when your asthma gets worse.
Work with a pediatrician or other healthcare provider to determine the best way to take care of your child's asthma. The more information a child, or parent of a child, with asthma has, the better asthma can be controlled.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The medications prescribed for children with asthma are highly individualized. The most commonly used medications are:
|
|
|
- Bronchodilators - used to help open the narrowed lungs. They may relieve coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. These are considered "rescue medications" for acute asthma attacks. Types of bronchodilators include: beta-agonists, theophylline, and anticholinergics. These come in inhaled, pill, liquid, or injectable forms. The short-acting bronchodilators are typically used as needed when symptoms occur. Longer-acting bronchodilators may be used on a daily basis to help keep flare-ups from occurring.
- Anti-inflammatory medications - help decrease the inflammation in the airways. These include:
- Corticosteroids - These can be inhaled or taken as a pill or liquid, or even given as an injection. The steroids taken by mouth can have more side effects than those that are inhaled. Inhaled steroids are safe and effective controller medications and should be taken every day.
- Anti-leukotrienes - used to help control symptoms. These medications help decrease the narrowing of the lungs and fluids in the lungs. These are usually given by mouth.
- Mast cell stabilizers - Cromolyn and nedocromil are two types and are usually inhaled.
|
|
|
|
|
