Childhood Asthma

The powerful of development made in medicine in the 20th and 21st century even though there are still many terrifying diseases and illnesses yet to be conquered. One of the most mysterious of these is asthma and the statistics for asthma in the US are alarming. The numbers show rates of asthma among Americans has been increasing for the past few years and will likely continue to raise according to recent asthma statistics. (CDC, 2011, p. 3) When people have heard about asthma, they know that it’s an illness which is relative with respiratory organs. They may not know exactly what it is, how and why their children have that disease.

Understanding about asthma is a good way to protect and treatments children. Asthma is a complex illness and can be defined in many ways. Basically asthma is a chronic disease of the airway of the lungs. Unfortunately, asthma never goes away, but the right treatment can help keep it under control. There are three overall contributing factors leading to the development of asthma. First, there is an airway obstruction in which the airways of the lungs or bronchial tubes are narrowed. Airway obstruction is a common symptom of asthma that may be caused by environmental factors, allergies or stress.

Because air can no longer flow smoothly in these passageways, obstruction occurs. However, because these tubes which allow air to pass through can dilate, and open, this type of obstruction is considered reversible. In this way, asthma can be distinguished from other types of bronchial illnesses like bronchitis and emphysema, in which the obstruction is irreversible. Often the bronchial tubes or lungs will narrow in such a way as to resemble a muscle cramp in that there is a tightening of the muscle, constricting air flow (Adams, F. V, 1998, p. ).

The air travels through the nose or mouth to a tube which is called trachea and get into a series of smaller tubes called bronchi. Then, the air is broken down into smaller tubes called the bronchioles. Asthma has a main effect on the bronchi and bronchioles (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. 2). Secondly, inflammation is considered an important leading cause and common symptom of asthma. Bronchial tubes in an asthma patient typically are red and swollen. This is threatening and becomes the focus of asthma therapy.

According to Francis and M. D, a bronchoscope is a device a physician inserts into the bronchial tubes to obtain samples of the lining and mucous secretions. Looking at these samples of cells under a microscope will help the physician to determine if there are asthma mediator cells which have been released during episodes of high inflammation or an actual asthma attack (Adams, F. V, 1998, p. 9). Finally, a third defining feature of asthma is hyperirritability. This is an action of the bronchial tubes where they tend to “overreact” and narrow to stimuli.

Often patients who are susceptible to this feature have rapid and severe asthma attacks in reaction to animal dander, dust, and fumes. This is considered a hyperactive reaction of the lungs and bronchial tubes to external factors and may need further testing in a doctor’s office to rule out other factors (Adams, F. V, 1998, p. 9, 10). Asthma is a big seriously issue nowadays. Also, it is one of the highest ranked causes of pediatric hospitalizations in the United States. From 2001 to 2009 people who have asthma is increasing 4. 3 million. Asthma killed 3447 people in 2007.

Also, asthma costs 6 % more since 2002 to 2007 about $ 53 billion to $ 56 billion. Asthma cost each person about $3. 300 for medical expenses (CDC, 2011, p. 1). According to National Academy on an Aging Society, asthma limits activity for children (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000, p. 1). Children cannot go to school cause of asthma of long duration. A report of National Academy on an Aging Society analysis of data showed that more than 20 percent of children with asthma missed at least one day at school in two weeks just 7 percent of children without asthma.

That mean children with asthma will be absent two weeks of school each year (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000, p. 3). However, children who have asthma still play sports. They should do it easy and use all medicine that the doctors give them. In addition, there are a lot of inconveniences to people having asthma wants a pet. They should talk to the doctor or a vet because being around the pet makes the patient harder to breathe (The University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center, p. 7). There are some signs that parents should know if children may have an asthma attack.

Then, asking the doctor for the child treatment. According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, when the child is wheezing with a high-pitched, the child may have an asthma attack. Parents should let the doctor know about it (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. 3). A child wakes up at night and coughs a lot although they don’t have a fever or cold. That could be sign of asthma. Let’s the doctor know about it (Palfrey, J. 2011 [Video File]). An asthma attack makes patient cough at night or after exercise or contact with cold air.

It is called chronic cough, it is a sign of asthma (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. 3). Shortness of breath can be a sign of asthma. In a running or jumping exercise all children run out of breath, but they will recover quickly. If the child doesn’t, you have to let the doctor knows about it. Hurting chest is a sign of asthma. Parents should ask the child where they feel hurt and uncomfortable in the chest. Then, reporting to the doctor to know what happens to the child (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. 3). Nobody can sure that how people get asthma.

Doctor thinks that people get asthma from many ways such as heredity, allergy, viruses, and environment. The first cases of asthma are heredity. Asthma can pass from this generation to another generation. If a family has asthma, the child may get the illness. Moreover, the risk of asthma is more when a child’s mother has asthma (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2000, p. 2). According to Wellcome Trust, a gene called PHF 11 was discovered on chromosome 13 in 2003. This gene appears to regulate the blood B cells that produce Immunoglobulin F, the allergic antibody.

Although new treatments take years to develop, the gene provides target for drugs that could turn off Immunoglobulin E and prevent allergic disease (Wellcome Trust, 2003, p. 1). Allergy also is a cause of asthma. An asthma attack can be by some allergens such as eggs, cow’s milk, wheat soybean products, tree nuts or peanuts (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2000, p. 2).

Allergic asthma is characterized by symptoms that are triggered by an allergic reaction (Adams, F. V. 1998, p. 12). Allergic asthma blocks respiratory air and inflammation that makes alterable with medication (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2000, p. ). Viral infection is a cause of leading to development of asthma. Researchers showed that human immune system produces IgE (Immunoglobulin E) which is a virus. Those viruses are capable of altering the nervous impulses that lead to asthma (Adams, F. V, 1998, p. 12). Environment is the leading cause of asthma attack such as dust, foods, chemicals, cigarette smoke, some perfumes or aerosol sprays, cold or dry air, exercise, laughing or yelling for long periods, and colds or the flu (The University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center, p. 4). Children should stay away from these things as possible.

According to Francis, “Another possible cause of asthma is a dysfunction of nerve receptors or endings in the muscle surrounding the bronchial tubes that produces constriction of the air passage” (Adams, F. V, 1998, p. 12). That mean imbalance produces narrowed air leading to asthma. Unfortunately there is no cure for asthma, but there are a lot of ways the doctors can help the child takes care of it so it doesn’t bother the child often.

According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, each case of asthma is different, so children need different treatment for each child (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. ). The first treatment called a quick-relief medication can end the symptoms of an asthma attack right away. These medicines work well for coughing or wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. They are also called rescue drugs. However, the medicine is just for a period time (The University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center, p. 10). Second treatment called long-term control medications can end the symptoms from beginning. These medications protect the bronchial tubes from swelling up.

Not same as a rescue medication, the controller medications need longer time to work. However, this medicine last longer than rescue medication. Patient may not know that these medication works cause they take days or weeks to start (The University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center, p. 10). The long-term control medications take regularly to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, 2005, p. 4). Track asthma rates and the effectiveness of control are a good way to check and prevent asthma.

Getting knowledge though education to know how to treatment asthma attack. Avoid asthma triggers at school, work, home, and outdoors to reduce asthma. Parents should give a hand to help their children like smoking outside if they do (CDC, 2011, p. 5). Asthma seems like a lot of things to deal with it, but once children understand more about it and how to take care of themself. In fact, children start their treatments they will have more energy to do things they really want to do like riding their bike, swimming, running or whatever they love to do.

Parents also are a part of it to help the children limited the asthma. Getting their children has a better healthy life. Give the child a better healthy life.