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Asthma in Children

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in children, affecting around 6 million US children. It’s important to detect the early warning signs of asthma in your child so that our Raleigh, NC, pediatricians Dr. Ceyhun "Jay" Ozturk and Dr. Maria Guerra can provide them with the treatment they need to control symptoms and to prevent emergency room visits and hospital stays due to asthma attacks.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Symptoms range from minor disturbances that last a couple of days to more serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms. Most children will experience asthma symptoms by the time they reach five years old. Some of the warning signs of asthma include,

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Wheezing or whistling when breathing in
  • Shallow or rapid breathing
  • Recurring chest colds
  • Coughing that gets worse at night

Your child may experience all of these symptoms or only one; however, it’s important to err on the side of caution and to visit your Raleigh, NC, children’s doctor for an evaluation if your child is displaying any of the symptoms of asthma, no matter how minor they may seem.

What can cause or trigger an asthma attack?

There are many things that can trigger an asthma attack including,

  • Certain allergens (e.g. mold; animal dander)
  • Irritants (e.g. cigarette smoke)
  • Weather (e.g. cold weather)
  • Exercise
  • Infections (e.g. flu; cold)

How is asthma treated?

Even though there is no cure for asthma, our pediatricians can provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan that will help your child manage their asthma to reduce the frequency and severity of their symptoms. There are two types of medications that are prescribed to treat asthma,

Long-term medication: This inhaler will be used every day to help reduce inflammation within the airways to help your child breathe better and to prevent symptoms. Even if your child isn’t experiencing symptoms they will need to use this medication every day for symptom maintenance.

Quick-relief: Sometimes referred to as a “rescue inhaler” this type of medication is only used when your child starts to experience sudden symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheezing. This medication can help prevent symptoms from turning into a full-blown attack.

The goal of Little Oaks Pediatrics in Raleigh, NC, is to make sure that your child feels the best they can so they can lead a healthy, happy life. No matter whether you suspect that your child may have asthma or you want to discuss the different medication options, don’t hesitate to call our office for an appointment.