Pediatric Asthma Treatment Q&A

A general outline of asthmatic treatment goes as follows:

• Assessment and monitoring
Continual assessment is important for disease control once the patient’s condition is classified and therapy has been initiated. Asthma control is the degree to which therapy is effective and the indications of asthma are minimized by therapeutic intervention. Asthma can be classified as very poorly controlled, not well controlled or well controlled.

• Education
While patient education is important in all areas of medicine, it is particularly important in asthma. Self-management education should focus on teaching patients the importance of both their own level of control and recognizing signs of progressively worsening asthma symptoms.

• Control of environmental factors and comorbid conditions
Environmental exposures and irritants often play a significant role in symptom exacerbations. Therefore, the use of skin testing or in vitro testing to assess sensitivity to perennial indoor allergens is important in patients who have persistent asthma. Counsel patients on avoidance from these exposures once the offending allergens are identified. Additionally, education to circumvent tobacco smoke (both first-hand and second-hand exposure) is important for patients with asthma.

• Pharmacologic treatment
To gain and maintain control of asthma in both the risk domains and the impairment, a gradual approach to pharmacological treatment is recommended. For initiating therapy, the type, amount, and scheduling of medication is dictated by the severity of asthma, just as adjusting therapy is based on the level of asthma control. Step-down therapy is essential to identify the lowest level of necessary medication to maintain control.

If you have asthma your airways are inflamed and sensitive to triggers such as cold air, pollution, cold and flu viruses or allergies that set off your asthma symptoms, such as food, dust or hay fever. As they get older, the condition might improve or disappear completely for some children diagnosed with asthma, but for many people, asthma is a lifelong condition.

However, asthma may not be culpable for causing the problem. Asthma-like symptoms can be the cause of allergies, which is why it may appear that a child has outgrown their asthma.

Just as diabetes or hypertension don’t go away, true asthma does not go away. It’s important to be vigilant if you feel your asthma symptoms are relieved, as it may simply be lying dormant.

There may be times where your symptoms do not affect your day-to-day activities, and these periods could last years or even decades. However, asthma symptoms can be activated again by a change in circumstances, such as stress, a new workplace, or hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause.

It is a sign that the medicines are working if you are taking your asthma medications as prescribed and feeling well, so don’t assume you no longer need treatment. If symptoms do come back, it’s vital that you don’t ignore them and that you speak with your primary healthcare provider.

When asthma symptoms occur during the night, it is called nocturnal asthma. If there is an irritant present, it can trigger an asthma attack, even when the child is sleeping. This can be particularly troubling for parents.

If your child is exhibiting asthma symptoms, come to Pediatric Associates of Frisco! Our team of kind and caring professionals are experienced in treating children with asthma, and can help you find the relief you and your little one need! To talk with an expert, contact our office today. Visit us online or give us a call to schedule an appointment at our clinic. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, McKinney TX, Prosper TX, Aubrey TX, Oak Point TX, Lakewood Village TX, Plano TX, and Dallas TX.