Caring an asthmatic child

Children accept and deal better with diseases than adults. But it is the parent's and the pediatricians responsibility to help the child to adapt to asthma. Anything can cause asthma in children; foods, pollens, dust mites, cockroaches, smoke, animal dander, temperature changes, respiratory infection, activity and stress. The common symptom is coughing in the absence of respiratory infection, especially at night. A parent should know the triggering agent, the symptoms and avoid status asthmaticus (which is a medical emergency).

When your child is diagnosed with asthma, it is important to explain him about the disease process in simple terms. They can be instructed to inform the parents or teachers (if at school) when they have symptoms of asthma. The symptoms may start with localised itching in front of the neck, shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, chest tightness, tiredness, restlessness and sternal retraction. Younger children assume a tripod sitting position and older children will sit upright with shoulders hunched and arms braced to facilitate the use of accessory muscles of breathing (they will refuse to lie down). Also the child will speak in short broken phrases. These symptoms should provoke the parent to take necessary action immediately.

To help a child with asthma,
1. The parents should be thorough about the disease condition, the medication and emergency measures. They must identify what is triggering the asthmatic attack, what kind of symptoms their child is presenting and avoid such stimulants.

2. As asthma is a life long disease, it is better to teach everything about the disease to the child when the child is big enough to understand and act accordingly.

3. Keep emergency medications, nebulizer and oxygen masks, tubing's and cylinders ready at home.

4. Keep the room air humid and keep the child's room very clean. Do vacuum and dust his room when the child is not home.

5. If the pollen is causing the problem, keep the doors and windows closed both at home and while travelling in a car. Encourage the use of mask while taking the child out for a walk or to the park.

6. If he is allergic to some kind of food, don't cook that at home because the child may tend to eat and crave for it.

7. If it's pet's dander, try not to have a pet a home. Avoid them from handling neighbourhood pets as well. Encourage them to wash hands well and blow out the secretions from nostrils if they handle pets.

8. Avoid them playing near the bush where there can be insects that might stimulate an attack.

9. Protect them from sudden temperature change with warm cloths covering the chest and neck, also use caps to avoid cold air entering through ears and scarf to cover the nose and mouth. Apply vicks vapour rub for chest, neck, nose, behind the ears and back to keep him warm and comfortable in cold season. Restrict them from playing in the rain.

10. If you are a smoker, stop smoking at home and avoid taking them to places where people smoke a lot. It's not on the cigarette smoke but also the smoke from kitchen or vehicles can stimulate an episode. Use exhaust fans while cooking and avoid taking the child to polluted areas. Even a strong perfume or washing solution can trigger an attack.

11. Avoid letting them play with children who has respiratory infection. It is also better to avoid swimming pools.

12. Don't let them play or do any activity till they get exhausted. Any stress can also stimulate an attack.

13. Give them steam inhalation and chest physiotherapy at home at least twice a week. This will bring out secretions and it's also good for lungs.

14. Instruct the child about identifying symptoms, use of appropriate medication, use of neutralizer and keeping them clean.

15. Teach deep breathing and effective coughing exercises and help them to do whenever possible. This helps to bring out secretion from the lungs.

16. Give them plenty of fluids and explain it's importance.

17. Ensure they take a well balanced diet.

18. Inform the health care providers and the school personnel about the child's condition.

19. Ensure he takes adequate rest and sleep.

20. Allow them to take control of self-care measures as they get older and help them whenever necessary.

You might have to make a lot of life style changes initially to get the child get accustomed with his routine. It is easy to adapt to a particular life style than to change, so a child easily gets along. Keep watching for long term medication side effects and other complications caused due to asthma. Make the best use of recent treatments and help your child to stay healthy.