We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday.  Today's topic is Asthma.

Defintion

Asthma is a respiratory (the breathing system including the lungs, mouth and nose) disease. An asthma attack happens when something blocks the flow of air into the child's lungs. Asthma is different from other types of breathing problems because the block allowing air to enter the lungs is reversible. (It can be fixed.) Asthma is the most common disease in children and the leading cause of children missing school and children being admitted to hospitals.

Symptons

The most common symptoms (signs) of asthma are problems breathing, like wheezing, coughing and/or shortness of breath. Your child may start out feeling a tightness in the chest and be unable to play or exercise normally. Then he or she may start wheezing or having heavy breathing and shortness of breath. Other signs of asthma are shortness of breath or coughing when exercising and coughing at night even without shortness of breath. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Most problems with asthma are worse at night. They also seem to be more severe in boys and in children under 5 years old.  

More Information

To get more information about Asthma, click here. 

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.