Pediatric Asthma Care Clinic Q&A

Pediatric asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children. The bronchial tubes are very narrow in children and when they become inflamed, can restrict even further. Common symptoms associated with pediatric asthma include:

• Coughing, especially at night
• A wheezing or whistling sound, especially when exhaling
• Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the neck or ribs to move inward
• Frequent colds that settle in the chest

Diagnosing children under the age of 6 is difficult due to a lack of pulmonary function testing, as children under the age of 6 cannot typically do the test reliably, and due to an overlap of viral symptoms with asthma symptoms. A pediatric asthma diagnosis is based on asthma history, including recurrent episodes of wheezing, cough, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness, and a physical exam confirming airway obstruction that improves with short-acting beta agonist (SABA). It may also be diagnosed due to the absence of an alternative explanation. The most common test used in diagnosing asthma is a lung function test, such as spirometry, which measures the air capacity of the lungs.

Childhood asthma can go away, but not in all cases. As children grow, so do the airways in their lungs. This growth and widening of the airways can reduce symptoms in some children, and in some cases, even diminish completely. However, this is not the case for every child, as asthma symptoms can persist into adulthood. Sometimes if asthma goes away on its own, it was never there to begin with but was improperly diagnosed. This is rather common as asthma can be very difficult to diagnose, especially in children. This is due to a few reasons, such as other conditions or illnesses producing similar symptoms or young children not being able to clearly articulate their symptoms.

Pediatric asthma is typically treated with the use of medications, educating the patient on how to deal with symptoms as they arise, how to avoid symptoms, and when to seek emergency care. Your child’s pediatrician will develop a treatment plan, commonly called an asthma action plan. Generally, the medications used to treat asthma include quick-relief medications and long-acting medications. Quick-relief solutions help manage sudden symptoms and are used for fast relief during an asthma attack. Long-acting medications work to prevent inflammation of the airways, keeping symptoms under control. These are typically taken every day.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of asthma and requires a diagnosis, or needs help managing their condition, come to SoCal Urgent Care today. Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating pediatric asthma and can help provide your little one with the care they need. For more information on our pediatric asthma care, Contact our office and get in touch with a member of our specialist team. To book an online appointment with our pediatric asthma specialist, visit our website or speak with us over the phone today. We are conveniently located at 710 S Brookhurst St. Suite A, Anaheim, CA 92804. We serve patients from Anaheim CA, Buena Park CA, La Palma CA, Cerritos CA, Placentia CA, Stanton CA, and surrounding areas.