What is Asthma
Asthma is a common, long-term (chronic) illness that affects the lungs and airways. An airway is the passage that air moves through to reach a person’s lungs. Children with asthma have sensitive airways that inflame and narrow in response to certain triggers. Examples of triggers are pollen, dust mites, pets, smoke, pollution, and exercise. Information about asthma triggers and how to manage them is provided later in this handbook.
During an asthma episode, your child may have trouble breathing. They may experience wheezing, chest tightness, or coughing. Asthma episodes (also called asthma attacks or exacerbations) can be mild, moderate, or severe and sometimes life-threatening. Asthma can be controlled with proper medication and education.
Causes and Types of Asthma
The exact cause of asthma is not known and there is often no single cause of asthma. Asthma often begins when your child is young and their immune system is still developing. The most common causes of asthma are identified below. A list of different types of asthma is presented in the chart on the following page. Knowing which type of asthma your child has can help reduce triggers and ensure the right treatment.
Family history: Asthma has a genetic component and can run in families. Children who have a parent or sibling with asthma, allergies, and/or eczema are more likely to develop asthma.
Exposure to allergens such as dust, air pollution, and secondhand smoke.
Respiratory infections such as the flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
How is Asthma Diagnosed?
There is no single test to determine if your child has asthma. Your child’s healthcare provider will conduct several assessments to help make a diagnosis.
Medical History
The first step to learning if your child has asthma is to talk to a doctor about their health. The doctor will ask you and your child about their symptoms. They may also ask about your child’s exposure to dust, secondhand smoke, and other substances that have been linked to asthma. The doctor may also ask about other relatives who have asthma or allergies.
Physical Examination
During a physical examination, the doctor will look at your child’s nose, throat, and upper airways. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your child’s breathing. They will typically listen for signs of wheezing, a common sign of asthma in children.
Spirometry (for children 5 years and older)
Spirometry is a breathing test that can help diagnose asthma. A spirometer is an instrument that measures the amount of air that a person can breathe in and out of their lungs. A person must be able to follow directions to complete the test, so the test is typically done for children 5 years of age and older.
During the test, your child will take a deep breath and then blow into a hollow tube as hard and quickly as possible. The tube is attached to the spirometer that measures the amount of air your child can hold in their lungs. Your child will do this process a few times. The results will determine whether anything is blocking their airways.
Sometimes, the doctor might ask your child to inhale asthma medicine to open their air passages. They will then repeat the same steps as above. If your child’s breathing gets better after taking the medicine, that could mean they have asthma.
Asthma is difficult to diagnose in young children for a few reasons. First, young children may be unable to clearly communicate their symptoms. There are also similarities between asthma symptoms and those of other respiratory conditions. Finally some testing cannot be performed on young children.
Childhood Asthma in the United States
If your child has asthma, they are not alone. As of 2021, 20 million adults and more than 4.6 million children (17 years of age or younger) were living with asthma.1Nearly 40% of children had experienced an asthma episode in the past year.
1U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm