WELLNESS
Wheezy does it
Asthma in children can be deadly, but a diagnosis can make managing symptoms easier
- Published: 26 Jun 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Life
Picture this scenario: One day, your child is running around happily, but by bedtime he starts coughing and breathing heavily. He may have trouble breathing during the night or may wake up coughing periodically. After a restless night, he may be cranky in the morning. If this happens, it may be a sign of asthma.
Children of all ages can develop asthma, a type of allergy that occurs in the lower respiratory tract, which starts at the trachea and ends at the bronchioles. Although it is not a contagious disease, asthma can be hereditary. People who never have asthma can also develop symptoms if they are in the wrong environment.
Asthma can be brought on by environmental changes, such as the weather. The colder temperature in an air-conditioned room does not increase the risk of asthma, but if the air filter is not regularly cleaned, there may be spores or dust that can provoke an attack. Stimulants of asthma include dust, cockroaches, dandruff from dogs and cats, pollens or fungi around the house. Because the lower respiratory tract in people with asthma is susceptible to contraction when stimulated, exercise _ no matter how little _ can cause the onset of symptoms.
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