Signs Your Child Has Asthma

Asthma affects about 4.7 million kids in the United States, causing symptoms that can interfere with daily activities and impair your child’s overall quality of life. While asthma can’t be cured, it can definitely be managed, and that begins by learning to recognize the symptoms.

As a top-rated pediatric practice, our team at Clarksburg Urgent Care in Clarksburg, Maryland, provides skilled, patient-centered care for childhood asthma, including custom asthma action plans tailored to each child’s unique needs. 

In this post, our team offers an overview of six common asthma symptoms to help parents seek medical treatment as early as possible.

1. Wheezing or whistling noises

Asthma narrows your child’s airways, making it more difficult for air to move in and out of their lungs. As a result, they may exhibit wheezing or whistling noises when they breathe. 

Sometimes, these noises only occur during physical activity when breathing is more intense. Other kids may exhibit this sign even at rest, particularly if they’re in an environment that contains allergens like dust or dander.

2. Frequent coughing, even at night

Coughing is another common symptom of asthma. Asthma causes inflammation in the airways, making your child much more sensitive to triggers like dust or smoke. When a triggering substance is breathed in, it can irritate their airways, causing coughing that can be difficult to control.

Like wheezing, coughing can happen at any time, but it tends to occur more often with physical activity. Cold air or something as enjoyable as laughing can set off a coughing spell. It may even happen at night, interrupting your child’s sleep. 

3. Shortness of breath

Airway inflammation and narrowing frequently lead to shortness of breath, especially during physical activity. You might notice your child becoming winded more quickly than their friends, or they may complain of having difficulty catching their breath. 

Shortness of breath tends to be more apparent during exercise or other physical activity, but it can also happen at rest. Your child might also exhibit shallow breathing, a subtler, harder-to-detect symptom that can indicate asthma or another respiratory issue that needs to be medically evaluated.

4. Chest tightness or discomfort

Kids with asthma may experience a tightness or squeezing sensation in their chest, or they might complain that their chest feels heavy or tight. Some kids experience discomfort when breathing, particularly during exercise or when exposed to cold air.

This sensation is typically triggered by inflammation in their airways, but it may also be related to shortness of breath and overall difficulty breathing. Asthma can cause the overproduction of mucus, which can lead to feelings of heaviness in their lungs or chest area.

5. Persistent fatigue

Your child’s lungs must work extra hard to bring in enough oxygen to meet the demands of all their organs and tissues. This extra effort is a common cause of fatigue in kids with asthma. Nighttime coughing is another reason for your child to feel tired regularly. 

6. Frequent respiratory infections

Finally, many kids with asthma have colds, flu, or other respiratory illnesses and infections more often than kids who don’t have asthma. That’s because their airways are already compromised by inflammation, and a respiratory infection compounds that problem while making it even more difficult to breathe.

For the same reasons, kids with asthma can take longer to heal from a respiratory infection, or they may require prolonged treatment and extra medication. Respiratory infections can also exacerbate asthma symptoms and increase coughing, making it difficult for your child to get adequate rest.

Asthma treatment can help

Asthma affects kids in different ways, and having an up-to-date asthma action plan plays an essential role in managing symptoms and preventing flare-ups. 

To learn how we can help your child manage their asthma with a custom action plan, request an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Clarksburg Urgent Care today.