If your child has asthma, it can be a frightening experience for everyone. It’s important to know what to do to take care of your child’s asthma. Your pediatrician can help. Dr. Alexandra Kostur at Jacksonville Kids Pediatrics in Jacksonville, FL, offers a full range of medical services for children, including diagnosis, management, and treatment of asthma.

What You Need To Know About Your Child’s Asthma

Asthma is a common condition in children. In fact, 1 in 10 children suffer from asthma, according to CDC estimates. Signs and symptoms of asthma are much more dramatic in children because a child’s airways are smaller. Your child has an increased risk of developing asthma if your child:

• Has a family history of asthma
• Has allergies, which can trigger an asthma attack
• Is frequently exposed to smoke, pollution, and other irritants

An asthma attack can be brought on by exposure to an allergen, or a cold or respiratory infection. You can do a lot to help prevent asthma symptoms if you limit exposure to allergens. You can do this by:

• Vacuuming frequently, or consider hard flooring
• Washing pillowcases and sheets regularly
• Using hypoallergenic sheets and pillowcases
• Keeping pets off furniture and out of your child’s bedroom
• Installing a HEPA filter in your child’s bedroom

You should also bring your child to see the pediatrician for allergy testing and treatment. By limiting exposure to allergens, you also reduce the potential for an asthma attack. To treat allergies, your pediatrician may recommend:

• Allergy injections
• Sublingual immunotherapy
• Prescription antihistamines and decongestants

Your pediatrician may also check your child’s lung function using spirometry and other tests to determine the severity of your child’s asthma. To treat asthma, your pediatrician may recommend:

• Long-term asthma control medications including inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, combination inhalers, and theophylline
• Quick-relief rescue medications including oral corticosteroids, short-acting beta-agonists, and ipratropium

Want To Know More About Childhood Asthma?

To learn more about how to take care of your child’s asthma, call Dr. Alexandra Kostur at Jacksonville Kids Pediatrics in Jacksonville, FL. You can reach her in the office by calling (904) 446-9991, so call today.