How to deal with an asthma attack in children
If your son or daughter suffers from asthma, we teach you to identify and act in the event of an asthma attack or crisis so that the episode does not continue.
The Asthma is a common disease among young people today, although we no longer warn too because we think that, as is so common, it is not a dangerous disease.
“Asthma” , it is thought, “is already very controlled . ” However, few people have really experienced what it is like to have an asthma attack, or worse, to have to attend to a person with an attack. It is not a dangerous disease and it is controlled to a great extent, it is true, but it does have risk factors that can affect the day-to-day life of the patient and that make it necessary to always be alert.
The young and the elderly are easy to calm themselves and are able to control your breathing and take steps to catch his breath or wait for the necessary assistance. However what about the children?
Children usually get very nervous when they have an asthma attack, and conditions that affect breathing are always a stressor. You do not know to what extent an attack can be a simple warning or can trigger a real problem.
Index
AND WHAT IS ASTHMA?
When we breathe, air enters us and leaves our lungs through the airways. But people with asthma have a problem with those airways, also called the bronchial tubes. Their bronchial tubes are often inflamed and irritated on the inside, which means that they are not as effective at breathing in and out . There is not enough space inside for air to flow normally.
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes increases during asthma attacks, making it difficult to breathe. During an asthma attack , also called an asthma attack or episode , the lungs may also produce a large amount of sticky mucus that partially blocks the airways. And the muscles around these pathways contract, tightening them even more.
SO HOW CAN WE AVOID THESE CRISES?
Moving away from all risk factors , and we understand risk factors as those triggers such as elements that cause asthmatic symptoms in breathing. Many children with asthma also have allergies , so the most common triggers include things that cause allergic symptoms. Some of the most common are pet hair, pollen , mites, or mold.
As they are so common factors, it is difficult to get away from them at all times, so the safest thing is to always carry the medications prescribed by the doctor at hand to avoid that, if the asthma attack occurs, the symptoms are more and more powerful. control them in time.
AND FROM THE PARENTS’ POINT OF VIEW, HOW SHOULD ONE ACT?
If our children have an asthmatic attack, the first and most important thing is not to get nervous. If you get nervous, you will help the child’s airways to become more blocked by making him more tense. Act calmly, slowly, and without being alarmed so that the child sees calmness from you and no more agitation.
Reach for the medicine prescribed by the doctor and have your child take it, usually they are medicines that dilate the bronchi and clear the airways, so you will see how it will improve in a matter of seconds.
In case there is no improvement and his breathing is still difficult, call the emergency room and notify the ambulance, the child may suffer a stronger attack than normal and it is best to notify the professionals so that they will attend to him and do it. whatever it takes. At all times we must keep in mind that it is important to calm the child and act with caution . If you have a car available, do not hesitate and take it to the nearest health center.
Something that can help the child regulate his breathing is, although it sounds strange, singing a song. Sing a song with him, the rhythm of the lyrics and pauses for air can make his breathing regulate and calm him down . Do this until you get medical help. If you see that it does not work or that the child is too affected, sit him in a chair and take care of him in the way he needs.
Asthma attacks can become a real risk to a child’s life, but panicking is not going to help. It is best, once diagnosed, to discuss a plan of action with the pediatrician even for emergency situations and to carry it out to the letter if necessary. We also have to teach the child to foresee when an attack is going to occur due to the previous symptoms and that he be able to warn in advance to be able to act with more margin of action.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.