A common condition seen in kids and teens, asthma is a lung condition that causes trouble breathing and shortness of breath. During an attack, the bronchial airways become inflamed and the muscles surrounding them constrict, making breathing difficult. Repeated attacks may cause permanent lung damage and in severe cases can be life-threatening. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 23 million Americans have the condition and more than one-quarter of them are children under the age of 18.
Asthma Causes
There are a variety of triggers that can lead to an asthma flare-up or make asthma worse. These vary for every person, but common triggers include:
Does my child have asthma?
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma is the most common chronic medical problem in children. Asthma symptoms will vary in frequency and severity, and most children with asthma develop their first symptoms before the age of five. Common signs include:
If you think your child may have asthma, contact your pediatrician. They can help you identify the early signs of childhood asthma and provide support for prevention and treatment.
A child may be at a greater risk for having asthma if there is a family history of asthma or if the child has eczema or frequent bouts of chronic lower respiratory problems occurring before the first birthday. Keeping your kids away from cigarette smoke in the home or car, removing pets from the house, paying attention to pollen and air quality forecasts and monitoring exercise are all ways to reduce asthma problems.
The good news is that the majority of asthma cases are only mild, and when the condition is properly managed with medications and extra caution, severe asthma flare-ups can be prevented. Work with your child’s pediatrician to learn more about the condition and ensure your child leads a healthy, normal, active life.
1625 Avenue Of The Cities,
Moline, IL 61265
The sick clinic is for acute problems like rashes, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburn and ear pain. We continue to take additional precautions to ensure the safety and health of our patients and staff through the use of our mobile registration and gathering information in advance of your appointment.
Thank you for your continued patience and support as we strive to meet the ongoing needs of our community in the safest possible manner.
Our Moline office is open from 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm Monday through Friday. We have limited Saturday availability for acute sick symptoms only through our Facebook self-scheduling link which will be posted each Friday evening by 7 pm CST. We do not have regular office hours on Sunday, however there is a provider on-call in case of emergencies.