Now that we are seeing cooler weather in Hampton Roads, and kids have been in school for more than two months, it’s what we pediatricians call “asthma season.”
The most common trigger for an asthma attack in a child is an upper respiratory infection, but colder air temperatures also play a role. Kids with asthma very often have more exacerbations and more sick days in the fall and winter, even after having few problems in the summer. This can be due to exposure to other kids and illnesses at school and because of changing temperatures.
Asthma is diagnosed when a child has frequent episodes of wheezing that are improved with medications called bronchodilators, also referred to as “rescue medications.” Kids may also have measurements of their breathing called pulmonary function tests to help diagnose asthma.
Many kids with asthma only need “rescue medications.” Others have more frequent symptoms and may require additional medications such as steroids or other “controller medications.”
If a child has a respiratory illness, cough is almost always the first symptom that they will have. If your child has a persistent cough, it’s a good idea to check with us as soon as possible. If the child is on medications, make sure all of his or her medications are up to date. If you need a refill, we may need to see them so that if needed, the medications are available quickly. If your child only uses controller medicines during certain seasons, such as fall, it’s time to start them back up. If your child is taking medications as directed, but still having frequent symptoms, (more than twice month,) it may be time for a change in therapy.
Finally, if your asthmatic child needs to take medications at school in an emergency, make sure your doctor has filled out an ”asthma action plan” so the correct medications are authorized to be given at school.