What is asthma in children?

Asthma is a disease of the airways in the lungs.  The airways of a child with asthma gets inflamed which makes them red, swollen, narrower and very sensitive to irritants. This leads to recurrent episodes of coughing, difficulty in breathing, wheezing (a whistling sound in the chest) and sometimes chest tightness.

How common is asthma in children?

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. The prevalence of asthma world-over in children is approximately 8-10%. In India the estimates suggests that 10-15 % children between 5-11 years have asthma.

What are the symptoms of asthma in children?

Sudden attacks of coughing which occurs time and again, cough does not get much better with cough syrups or antibiotics, congestion which starts with a runny nose, child wakes up at night with coughing and tightness in chest, “wheezing” a whistling sound in the chest, noisy chest with fast breathing, child had difficulty in breathing and coughing after play or exercise.

View this presentation for a detailed overview on asthma in children

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Source:‘Video Courtesy Breathefree Initiative | www.breathefree.com’

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