Toddler Asthma
Toddler asthma can be a serious problem. At such a young age, asthma is often mistaken for other health problems, and children suffering from asthma are not always able to verbalize their breathing problems or the tightness in their chest.
Yet it’s important that you pay attention for some of the warning signs of asthma in toddlers in order to catch the disease early and get your child treatment.
Why Are Toddlers at Risk for Asthma?
Asthma can occur in anyone at any age, but children tend to be most at risk. Toddlers do not have bronchial tubes large enough to handle inflammation, and because young children are more at risk for illnesses that can inflame airways, toddlers are at a greater risk for developing asthma.
Those who experience frequent illness at a young age especially may develop asthma very young.
5 Early Warning Signs for Toddler Asthma
While toddlers experience asthma in a manner similar to older children and adults, they are also at an age where one of the most common symptoms – shortness of breath – may not be easy to notice. Children at this age who cannot get enough air in each breath many not respond the same as an older child to the sensation of deprivation.
Since you cannot ask the child how they are doing, you are advised to look for symptoms such as:
• Wheezing
• Faster breathing
• Unusual crying
• Eating/swallowing issues
• Noisy/unusual breathing
Many of these symptoms are easy to miss, but if they are the result of asthma, they can get worse. Toddlers that have an asthma attack may struggle to breathe, often indicated by extremely fast breathing, loud wheezing, forced nostril movement or bluing of the skin.
Nostril movement and fast breathing are signals the child may not feel they are getting enough air. The child’s breathing may appear urgent and they may lose focus and be unable to listen to you as it happens.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Asthma in toddlers is very difficult to diagnose – more so than in children or adults – which also makes treatment difficult. Some doctors may choose to treat your child without a diagnosis to see how your child responds. It is important that you pay attention to your child’s symptoms and behaviors as well.
These may help the doctor learn if your child has asthma or a different health problem.
Toddler asthma is treated the same as adult asthma. Children are provided with low dose inhalers designed to help them breathe. Pharmacies have developed tools that make it easier to give your child these medicines. If one method doesn’t work, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible alternatives.
Long Term Cure
While toddler asthma may not have a cure, as many as 50% of all children grow out of their asthma symptoms as they age. This is why it’s important to catch the asthma early and manage the symptoms – to ensure that they do not get worse.
Pay attention to warning signs of asthma in toddlers and contact your doctor with any concerns.