Signs to watch out for to know if your child has asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes a narrowing of the airways, making it harder to breathe. It can trigger mild symptoms or become a serious health problem that requires urgent rescue medications by a pediatric doctor in an emergency room. Asthma is more common in children and adolescents, but even adults can still experience an asthma crisis.

In asthma, the bronchi are hypersensitive to certain conditions and environmental triggers — for instance, pollen, certain smells or particles in the air, and cold weather. When the airways are in contact with such triggers, they react against them, and the airways start narrowing as an exaggerated defense mechanism.

When not controlled, asthma can severely affect the quality of life of children and adolescents, making them less physically active.

HMG’s Best pediatricians in Dubai tells the most important signs and symptoms are as follows:

• Shortness of breath: It is the most common symptom in asthma. Shortness of breath is the result of the narrowing of the airways. The lungs receive a reduced level of oxygen, and the thoracic muscles start to work harder to counter the airway obstruction.
• Wheezing: Another classic sign in asthma is wheezing. In severe cases and during a crisis, wheezing can be heard by anyone who is staying around the patient. However, in some cases, it will only be detected with the aid of a stethoscope. Wheezing is the characteristic sound of air going through a narrow channel at high velocity, which is what happens during asthma flare-ups.
• Coughing and mucus: As a part of the hypersensitivity response, the airways start producing additional mucus, and patients could experience both dry and wet coughing, especially during nighttime.
• Tightness in the chest: It’s an oppressive feeling located in the chest, described as chest pressure and sometimes felt as chest pain.
• Anxiety: Patients with asthma, especially during flare-ups, often feel scared and anxious when they notice shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms. They may start fidgeting, making a conscious effort to breathe, and performing rapid and anxious respiration.
• Cyanosis: It is an alarming clinical sign that points out an insufficient oxygen level in the blood. Cyanosis is a bluish or purplish coloration of the skin, which happens because the blood turns into a darker color when it does not have oxygen. You might start noticing cyanosis in the patient’s fingertips and the lips, and it is a warning sign to seek emergency medical care by the best pediatrician in Dubai.

What you can do if your child has asthma symptoms

Asthma should be controlled by a pediatric doctor, and if you find any of these symptoms in your child, it is important to take him to the emergency room in order to assess the severity of their medical condition. Local pediatricians in your area can solve these emergencies, but if you want a life-long solution for your child, the best medical care will be delivered by the best pediatrician in Dubai, one that joins knowledge with experience, modern medical practice and the best medical team available in the country.

Should you see all or any of the signs above please do not hesitate to visit our Emergency room, call 997 or book an appointment with the best pediatricians in Dubai.