Answers to questions families often have about caring for their child with asthma

Asthma is a complex, recurrent disease of the airways that causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough (particularly at night or early in the morning). Asthma is episodic in nature and usually reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment. However, chronic inflammation, associated with persistent symptoms, may contribute to airway remodeling that may not be completely reversible. Asthma is one of three atopic conditions (asthma, hay fever, eczema) that appear to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Symptoms include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and increased sputum production.

Initial diagnosis focuses on history and physical exam findings, spirometry, and exclusion of other diagnoses.

Approximately 1/3 of children with asthma will "outgrow" the condition by the time they are adults and these children tend to be those with milder asthma symptoms. Children who develop asthma after age 5 are less likely than those who did so before age 3 to have long-term residual effects. Although there is a risk of severe disease and death with asthma, this is increasingly unusual and the majority of children with appropriately-treated asthma function as well as those without asthma.

Asthma is one of three atopic conditions (asthma, hay fever, eczema) that appear to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors, so although it runs in families, having one child with asthma doesn't necessarily mean that you will have another child with asthma.

Treatment for asthma depends on the severity of the condition and the ongoing response to medications. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, has published clear guidelines depending on the number and type of exacerbations experienced by the child. Some children will need occasional inhaler treatments; others will need to be on daily medications.

Children with asthma that is not well controlled may miss a lot of school causing parents to miss work. If this occurs often, the child should be seen by their primary care provider for alternative therapies.

Second-hand smoke can linger long after the person was smoking. The American Lung Association ties second-hand smoke exposure to the initiation and worsening of asthma in children. See Second Hand Smoke and Children (National Cancer Institute).