About 7% of children have asthma, a chronic respiratory condition that causes the lungs to swell and produce extra mucus. At Bubbles Pediatrics LLC, expert pediatrician Utsahi Patel, MD, specializes in the prevention and treatment of asthma. Using safe and effective treatments, she can relieve your child’s symptoms and help them breathe easier. To make an appointment for your child, call the office in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, or click the online booking feature today.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes your child’s lungs to swell up and become irritated when exposed to certain triggers. Without intervention and treatment, asthma can interfere with your child’s quality of life, preventing them from spending time with friends, playing sports, or getting restful sleep.
Though there’s no cure for asthma, a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, trigger avoidance, and prescription medication can reduce the frequency of flare-ups and prevent damage to your child’s lungs.
Symptoms of childhood asthma include:
Your child might also experience fatigue, especially if their asthma keeps them up at night.
Make an appointment for your child at Bubbles Pediatrics LLC if you suspect they have asthma. That’s especially true if they regularly make statements like “my chest feels funny,” or “I’m always coughing.” The sooner they receive diagnosis and treatment, the less likely they will experience long-term complications.
Children of all backgrounds experience asthma, but several factors may increase your child’s risk, including:
Your child is also more likely to experience asthma if they struggle to maintain a healthy weight.
To diagnose asthma, your child’s pediatrician reviews their medical history and asks about their symptoms, including their severity and if they’re worse during certain activities, like at recess or when playing sports.
Next, your child’s provider orders several tests, including:
Spirometry is a noninvasive test that assesses your child’s lung function. During the test, the pediatrician has your child exhale into a medical device called a spirometer. The device measures how much air your child exhales and how quickly.
If spirometry isn’t enough to make a diagnosis, the pediatrician might recommend an exhaled nitric oxide test. This type of test helps your child’s provider determine if they might benefit from prescription corticosteroids.
Treatment of asthma depends on various factors, including your child’s age and the severity of their symptoms. Even so, the pediatricians at Bubbles Pediatrics LLC usually recommend a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, trigger avoidance, and prescription medication.
Some of the most common medications used to treat asthma include:
Your child’s provider might also prescribe a quick-relief inhaler for emergency flare-ups and asthma attacks.
To schedule an asthma consultation for your child at Bubbles Pediatrics LLC, call the office or click the online booking feature today.
