The asthma of the child

The asthma of the child
Asthma is a frequent disease in the child, who generally appears by episodes of respiratory embarrassment accompanied by whistles. It is a state in which the bronchi are hypersensitive. In certain circumstances, which are specific to each asthmatic (contact with an animal or other allergens, a pollutant, at the time of an effort, or a cold… or several at the same time), the bronchi react by an ignition and a spasm (the broncho constriction). The bronchi are ignited, the mucous membrane – interior of the bronchi – is thick and manufactures more glaires. When the embarrassment is frequent or when the crises are serious this ignition persists between the crises, even when the child feels well.

Is asthma psychological?
The very great sensitivity of the bronchi is under genetic influence and is maintained by the factors irritating the environment. The psychological factors play a minor part in the asthma which is especially an organic disease. On the other hand an asthma badly balanced or badly treated can have an important psychological repercussion.

Are the drugs of asthma dangerous?
Do inhaled corticoids prevent from growing, make they grow bigger?

For many people, the term “corticoids” evokes an negative image. However inhaled corticoids almost do not pass in blood circulation (and thus are not practically likely to cause effects on other bodies that the bronchi); in addition the amount of the drug is extremely weak compared to that contained in oral corticoids (into compressed). More important still, the risks of inhaled corticoids are definitely less than the risks of a sub-contracted asthma!

Do themimetic ones (blue drugs) tire the heart? Can one to it be accustomed?

They do not tire the heart! There is no habituation! They involve tremors and sometimes palpitations which are without gravity and quickly yield to the stop treatment. The effects of Bêta2-mimetic on the heart are the same ones as those of a race on foot. Thus except very serious cardiac disease, there is no counter-indication with the use of themimetic ones.

Will asthma cure? Does asthma disappear with puberty?
All depends on the direction which one gives to the word cure. If one understands by cure the absence of crises, a family life, school, sporting and normal respiratory functions without need to take treatments daily, the answer is yes for the very large majority of the asthmatic children. When? In a few years and all the more quickly as the child will have been treated regularly.

On the other hand if one understands by cure the complete disappearance of the risk of crisis, the answer is probably not. Indeed, even when asthma appears returned in phase of sleep, the asthmatic ground remains. One cannot exclude that a repetition occurs, for example if the asthmatic person is brought to change environment. But an asthma controlled well in childhood is likely all to be it also at the adulthood. It is by looking after the asthma of the child correctly that one has all the chances to reduce the risk of reappearance of it to the adulthood and to attenuate gravity of it.

Is asthma a grave disease?
The majority of asthmas of the child are light or moderate. The crises are occasional, more few days do not last and are well controlled by simple and effective treatments when they are managed without delay.

At certain periods or in certain children, the signs can be more frequent or more low registers: a specialized and brought closer medical monitoring is then necessary.

The therapeutic progress made during the 20 last years allowed the near total asthmatic children correctly followed to carry out the same life as children in perfect health, as well in school as in the swimming pools, on the stages, the courts of tennis or on the ski slopes.

How to look after its asthma?
Can one prevent the crises?

One can prevent a great number of crises, decrease the frequency and gravity by it in several ways:

To face its starting factors or to better avoid them (when it is possible. It is for example to avoid breathing of the acarina when one is allergic there, to prevent a crisis started by the physical effort…
To take its basic treatment regularly when it was prescribed by its doctor. It is in general a treatment anti-inflammatory drug, it acts over the duration. It is normal to feel any immediate benefit it. This treatment must be taken the every day even when one does not have a crisis.
To have a good knowledge of its disease and its treatments. Its doctor, the books… can bring this information. Sessions of formation in a school of asthma can also be proposed.
To supervise its asthma. The regular practice “of respiratory functional tests” (it is the measurement of the breath) is necessary to check that its asthma is well controlled. Indeed it happens that asthmatic feels well and that the measurement of the breath indicates a bad control of asthma. It is the doctor who prescribes this examination.
What to make in the event of asthma attack?

Most important is to follow the indications of its doctor and to ask him an action plan personalized writes.  The objective is to fill this action plan oneself in partnership with its doctor. This action plan can be based on its symptoms or the result of measurement of its breath (peak output or English peak-flow). This action plan makes it possible to act precociously on the crisis and to be known when and how to call for the aid.