CIENCIASMEDICASNEWS: Asthma in Children: MedlinePlus

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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.

Start Here

Asthma (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)Also in Spanish
Asthma Basics (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
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)

Latest News

Clean Home May Help Keep Kids' Asthma in Check (10/31/2016, HealthDay)
Farm Kids Get Fewer Allergies, International Study Finds (09/27/2016, HealthDay)
Combo Drug for Childhood Asthma Appears Safe in Study (08/31/2016, HealthDay)
More News on Asthma in Children

Diagnosis and Tests

Diagnosing Asthma (American Academy of Pediatrics)Also in Spanish
Diagnosing Asthma in Very Young Children (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Pulmonary Function Testing in Children (American Thoracic Society) - PDF
Wheezing and Asthma in Infants (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Asthma Triggers and What to Do about Them (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Creating an Asthma-Safe Home (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)Also in Spanish
What's an Asthma Flare-Up? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

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.) - PDF
What If My Child Doesn't Take His or Her Asthma Medication? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

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) - PDF
Inhaler or Nebulizer: Which One Should My Child Use? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
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)Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Asthma & Physical Activity in the School (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - PDF
Asthma and Food Allergies (American Academy of Pediatrics)Also in Spanish
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)
Ozone, Air Quality, and Asthma (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

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)Also in Spanish

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: allergic asthma (National Library of Medicine)

Images

Metered dose inhaler use - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Nebulizer use - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Peak flow meter use - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Spacer use - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish

Health Check Tools

Asthma Quiz (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Quiz (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Videos and Tutorials

Enviromysteries: Inside Stories: Thomas' Story (Maryland Public Television, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
Know How to Use Your Asthma Inhaler (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Virtual Allergist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)