Here are a few signs that your child suffers from asthma.
Asthma is a common breathing affliction that affects children as often as adults. According to recent studies from both the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the American Lung Association, 7 million children across the United States suffer from asthma. Despite this large number, it can often go unnoticed by parents, who mistake it for just wheezing or some other kind of common disease. This can be very dangerous for the health of your child, especially during the warm summer months when asthma becomes a major concern.
“Asthma is characterized by wheezing, severe cough and shortness of breath,” Dr. Ashanti W. Woods, attending pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells The Weather Channel. “It’s a type of respiratory distress, sometimes triggered by exertion and sometimes by environmental triggers — including smoke, dust, change in seasons, sometimes change in weather and sometimes pets.”
Despite a number of warning signs, a child’s asthma can go unnoticed. Be on the lookout for these symptoms in your own kid:
- Fatigue: One way you will notice that your child has asthma is if they are constantly tired. This is concerning because kids are generally supposed to be active and have a seemingly nearly endless supply of energy, so if they fall into a malaise and do not wish to move, you could have a case of asthma on your hands.
- Related conditions: “I like to say asthma has some close cousins,” said Dr. Woods. “[These include] seasonal allergies and eczema. All three are closely related and belong to the same family.” Having one of these conditions will put someone at risk for the other two, especially if they run in the family’s genetics.
If you or a family member has asthma, be sure to invest in a home air purifier from US Air Purifiers Direct 2U!