By Lauren Hill

Children are naturally resilient and are often fully capable of dealing with whatever troubles are thrown their way, but dealing with a chronic illness like asthma can require a little bit of help from family and friends. If not treated properly, asthma can have life-long consequences and can make even day-to-day life a struggle. As such, parents of asthmatic children need to be aware of how they can help their children take control over their asthma so that they can continue on the path towards a healthy adulthood. Being knowledgeable and transferring that knowledge on to your child can ensure that they are able to watch for the signs of an asthma attack and be careful to avoid activities or situations that may cause a reaction. Here are some tips that can help you prepare yourself and in turn prepare your child to deal with life with asthma.

Get a Diagnosis

The first step to taking care of your child and gaining control over their asthma is to get a diagnosis so that the proper medication can be prescribed, if necessary. The American Lung Association suggests that children who will be asthmatic will typically begin showing symptoms by the time they reach the age of five. Some kids are more susceptible to lung conditions tied to colds or other infections and those symptoms can sometimes be similar to asthma’s symptoms, but speaking with your child’s pediatrician and giving them as much information as you can will help the doctor narrow down what may be causing the discomfort that your child has been experiencing. Here are some of the symptoms of asthma in children:

• A wheezing sound when your child exhales

• Complaints of chest pain

• Interrupted sleeping due to shortness of breath, which can cause fatigue

• Frequent coughing, made worse by a cold or the flu

• Tightness of the chest

If your child has been complaining of these symptoms, you may want to consider making an appointment with your doctor or specialist in order to complete a diagnosis. It may seem as though a formal diagnosis could be too worrisome, but as a parent it is important to move forward on the treatment of your child’s condition and this often requires medical intervention.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this article shortly…..

– Lauren Hill is a freelance writer and Mom to an asthmatic child. She finds great joy in educating others on dealing with asthma. Lauren is a contributing author for RabbitAir.com.