Will asthma medications affect my child’s teeth?
Certain asthma medications can affect the health of your child’s teeth. Some medicines leave a residue on your teeth that can wear down the hard outer layer of your tooth called the enamel. Some medicines can affect the gums and can cause dry mouth. It is important to ensure that your child brushes their teeth twice a day using toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Most children need an adult to help them brush their teeth well (or check their teeth) until around age 8. If appropriate, your child should use floss and/or mouthwash. Ask your dentist if you are not sure and be sure that your child sees the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. Also be sure to avoid juice, soda, and other drinks that have sugar since they can also damage the teeth. Finally, it is important for your child to rinse their mouth after using any inhaled asthma medications that have a steroid in them.
How do I know if a cough is an asthma cough that should be treated or a cough due to postnasal drip caused by a sickness?
People can have a cough for many reasons. When a child is sick and they have postnasal drip, there are typically other signs of the virus, such as a runny nose, fever, throwing up, or rash. A healthcare professional can also examine your child to look for other signs of postnasal drip in the nose and mouth as well as other signs of the virus.
Can children have asthma but no wheezing?
Wheezing is a whistling sound that is made as air tries to move through an airway that is partially blocked. Wheezing is one symptom of asthma; other symptoms are cough, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness. Each child’s asthma presents in different ways so some children may have wheezing while others may not and rather present with one or more of the other symptoms.
My son’s rescue inhaler is about to expire on the 31st. He still has a lot of puffs left. Do I throw it away? For how long past the expiration date would it be good?
It is considered that most inhalers are good for approximately one year after their expiration date. It is important to note that this can vary based on factors, such as where the inhaler is stored. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations (see the package insert of the inhaler or ask your pharmacy. Importantly, the potency (strength) of a medication becomes lower after the expiration date so the medication may not work as well. If you use an inhaled medicine that has passed its expiration date, it will not be harmful although it will not be as effective.
Can asthma medications affect my child’s behavior and mental health?
Certain asthma medicines can affect a child’s behavior and mental health. Inhaled beta-agonist medications (e.g. albuterol) can lead to tremors, nervousness, and difficulty sleeping. Inhaler corticosteroids can lead to behavior changes, such as being hyperactive, aggressive, or agitated. A leukotriene receptor antagonist (e.g. montelukast) may have side effects of depression, aggression, nightmares, anxiety, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), and thoughts of hurting oneself. It is impossible to predict whether your child will experience these effects when taking asthma medicines. So, it is important to watch for symptoms and signs and, if appropriate, talk to your child about it so you can report any symptoms.
If my child only coughs at night, do they need to use their inhaler during the day?
A cough at night suggests that your child’s asthma is not well controlled or another condition is causing them to cough, such as reflux or postnasal drip. It is important for them to be seen by a doctor or healthcare professional to figure out what is causing the cough to happen at night. Based on the history and exam, the healthcare professional will make recommendations that can help decrease the cough at night.
If it is asthma that’s causing your child’s coughs at night, taking an inhaler during the day can decrease the swelling and muscle squeeze in their lungs, which will help decrease the coughing at night.
When is it ok to send my child back to school or daycare after treating flare-ups?
Children can go back to school after their symptoms are under control and continue to improve. All of the symptoms do not need to be resolved as it can take several days to get better. They should be taking medication no more than every 4 hours. Every school is different so it is important to talk to your school nurse or staff member to ensure that the school is aware of the child’s asthma, signs to watch out for, medications to give, and how to use the medications.
Do I need to keep my child inside when the outdoor air quality is poor?
It is important to watch air quality levels regularly as children with asthma are more sensitive to poor air quality. When the air quality is poor, it is a good idea to limit the time that your child spends outside. There is no right amount of time or maximum amount of time that they can be outside. It can be helpful to watch for symptoms, decrease the intensity of the activities, and take breaks regularly. You can check the air quality in your neighborhood by going to www.airnow.gov.