Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Asthma in Babies: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment


A trigger for asthma is any substance that can cause an asthmatic episode to occur in your baby. Hence, asthma symptoms can be seasonal or can vary based on the presence of a particular substance or activity. Just as the symptoms of asthma can differ from one person to the next, asthmatic triggers that could affect your baby may have no effect on another person who suffers from asthma. There are different types of triggers which can also be classified as triggers that are allergy related and those that are non-allergic triggers. It is very important to know and understand the triggers that affect your baby, if any, and how to avoid such triggers.

Triggers for asthma can include dust mites, pollen and pet dander. If you have pets and your baby seems to be having an adverse reaction to a particular pet or all the pets, investigate an allergy which may be present. You may decide to minimize your baby's contact with the pet to see whether the pet is indeed a factor affecting your child's health. If your baby is allergic to the pet and exhibits signs of asthma, ensure that pet dander is not a trigger to your child's asthmatic episodes. If an allergy causes your baby to have an asthmatic episode or attack, this type of asthma is sometimes referred to as allergy asthma.

Other instances of asthma may have nothing to do with an allergy but simply occur because an inflammation of the airways is present. In such non-allergic cases of asthma, your baby may suddenly become distressed without any allergen trigger. In this case, it can be difficult to known when an episode will occur and it will be best to have treatment or a method of providing relief for the airways nearby. Some non-allergic triggers include infections, exercise and irritants such as perfume, chemicals or other smells that may exist in the environment. No matter the type of asthma your baby has, it is important to recognize the symptoms of asthma that your baby exhibits.

If you suspect that your baby has asthma, some difficulties with allergens or a confirmed case of airway restriction, then it is best to see a doctor and have your baby diagnosed. It could be possible that all you baby has is a severe allergic reaction. However, in some cases such as in allergy asthma, your baby's allergies are directly related to his or her asthma. If your baby does have asthma, an early diagnosis should be sought. Do not let the symptoms linger because this can be quite uncomfortable for your baby. There is treatment that can help your baby cope with asthma.

After an asthma diagnosis has been provided for your baby, learn as much as you can about the disease. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to handle the condition. Next, you would want to determine if your baby has any triggers that are related to asthmatic episodes. Your baby's doctor can discuss an asthma action plan and provide you with guidance on how to care for your baby and use the plan appropriately.

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