What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the lungs. When inflamed, the airways in the lungs swell, which causes shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.
Asthma can occur at any age but often appears during childhood. Your child may be at risk of developing the chronic disease if it runs in your family, or there’s a family history of allergies, such as atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis.
What causes asthma?
Researchers are still investigating the exact cause of asthma, but theorize it may develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, your child’s asthma symptoms may have specific triggers, such as:
- Airborne allergens (ragweed, pollen, dust mites)
- Pollutants
- Respiratory infection
- Physical activity
- Emotional stress
- Medications
- Cold air
- Food preservatives
Treatment for your child’s asthma focuses on preventing asthma attacks by identifying and minimizing your child’s exposure to asthma triggers. Treatment also includes the use of long-term medications to decrease lung inflammation, as well as short-term medication to alleviate symptoms during an asthma attack.
When should I take my child to the hospital?
Asthma attacks are scary for both you and your child. To help you manage all aspects of your child’s asthma, your child’s primary care physician provides an asthma action plan, which includes a list of symptoms that require emergency medical care.
In general, you should seek emergency medical care for your child’s asthma:
- When the rescue inhaler doesn’t improve breathing or wheezing
- Your child's lips or nails are blue
- Your child is unable to walk due to shortness of breath
- Your child has an elevated heartbeat
To provide your child with the emergency care they need while you’re on the way to the emergency room, the team at South Counties Pediatric Critical Care Medical Group offers 24-hour critical transport with a team led by a pediatric intensivist.
Once in the emergency room, your child receives the urgent medical care they need, and the emergency room physicians determine whether your child needs to be admitted.
What happens during an asthma hospitalization?
The team at South Counties Pediatric Critical Care Medical Group includes physicians who specialize in pediatric pulmonary medicine. During your child’s inpatient hospital stay, you can expect the team to visit your child daily and manage all aspects of their inpatient care.
The team also stays in constant communication with your child’s primary care physician. Once your child is stable, the team develops a discharge plan that includes follow-up visits with your child’s doctor.
To learn more about inpatient hospital care for your child’s asthma, contact South Counties Pediatric Critical Care Medical Group by calling the office today.
