Asthma and Allergy Q & A
What are the symptoms of asthma and allergies?
Asthmatic symptoms vary by child, and they may change as they get older. The same child can also experience different symptoms depending on what triggered their attack. Allergies can aggravate these symptoms or even cause others to occur. However, there are common signs to look out for, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing when breathing
- Tight feeling in the chest
- Colds frequently turn into bad coughs
- Itchy, teary eyes
Other symptoms include a loss of voice, frequent sneezing, and coughing. Symptoms will of course vary, but it’s important to give your provider a full picture of the symptoms you’re experiencing so they can recommend the right treatment plan.
What causes asthma and allergies?
Allergies and asthma often go hand-in-hand because many of the same things that trigger allergies – pollen, pet hair, and dust – also cause asthmatic symptoms. Some skin and food allergies even directly cause asthma. This is known as allergic asthma.
However, other things cause asthma, including infections, exercise, reflux, cold air, and stress. Many people have more than one trigger for their asthma.
Your pediatrician will run a series of allergy tests on your child to see what triggers their symptoms. They use a small instrument made up of lots of tiny needles, each carrying an allergen, which they use to pinprick your child’s arm painlessly. They’ll schedule a follow-up appointment after a few days, and if any of the pinpricks are red, it’s a sign that your child responds to that allergen.
Can you cure asthma and allergies?
Many people find they have periods during which their symptoms significantly reduce or even disappear altogether. There’s a common theory that asthma and allergies occur in seven-year cycles because people will often go for seven years with no episodes before having another seven years in which the symptoms are back with force.
Though you can never completely cure asthma or allergies, you can manage the symptoms through medication and being aware of what triggers your child’s attacks. Steroids, combined inhalers, and pills are all common methods of controlling asthma flare-ups by keeping children’s airways open. Allergy shots are also frequently used as they prevent both allergies and allergic asthma
The team at Kids Central Pediatrics uses an evidence-based approach to find the best regimen for your child, so they can live as symptom-free as possible and continue to do all the things children love to do. Find out more by calling Kids Central Pediatrics today, or book an appointment online.
Check out this great resource from helpmommy.com on Spring Allergies: https://helpmommy.com/spring-allergy-questions/