Introduction
Asthma is a common long-term condition that can be well controlled in most children. The severity of asthma symptoms varies between children, from very mild to more severe.
In the UK, over 1.1 million children have asthma. It is more common in young boys than young girls. However, this changes as children get older and, after puberty, asthma is more common in girls.
During the teenage years, the symptoms of asthma may disappear. However, asthma can return in adulthood. If the childhood symptoms of asthma are moderate to severe, it is less likely that the condition will get better in adolescence and more likely that it will return later in life.
The cause of asthma is not fully understood. It is known that asthma often runs in families and a child is more likely to have asthma if one or both parents have the condition.
What is asthma?
Asthma affects the airways, the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs (known as the bronchi). If your child has asthma, the airways of their lungs are more sensitive than normal. When your child comes into contact with something that irritates their lungs, known as a trigger, their airways become narrow, the lining becomes inflamed, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus or phlegm. This makes it difficult to breathe and causes wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and can make the chest feel tight.
A sudden, severe onset of symptoms is known as an asthma attack, or an acute asthma exacerbation. Asthma attacks can sometimes be managed at home but may require hospital treatment. They are occasionally life threatening.
Common triggers
A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of asthma. Everyone s asthma is different and people may have several triggers.
The most common trigger of an asthma attack is having an upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu. Other common triggers include:
- exercise, especially in cold weather
- an allergy to and contact with house dust mites, animal fur, grass and tree pollen
- exposure to air pollution, especially tobacco smoke
