Asthma triggers
Things that can bring on your child's asthma symptoms are called triggers. It's useful to know what triggers set off your child's symptoms. If your child can avoid some of these triggers, they may be able to prevent their asthma symptoms happening.
The most common triggers are:
* Allergens
* Smoke and air pollution
* Exercise
* Other illnesses (such as a cold).
Why my child?
Some children are more likely to get asthma than others. Things that increase someone's chances of getting a condition are called risk factors. The most important risk factor for asthma in children is having asthma in the family.
A child who has a parent or other close relative with asthma is more likely to get asthma than a child who doesn't have any close relatives with asthma.[3]
Diseases run in families because of genes that are passed from parents to their children. But there is no single gene that causes asthma. It happens because of a combination of many different genes. Some of these genes change the way your immune system works. But we don't know how these genes work together to cause asthma.[4]
If you inherit asthma from your parents, you may also inherit eczema, hay fever or both.
There are other risk factors for children getting asthma. To learn more, see Who's at risk?
Asthma and wheezing in young children
Many babies and young children get wheezy from time to time, especially if they've got a cold or are just getting over one. For children under about 5 or 6 years old, it can often be difficult for doctors to know whether wheezing is caused by asthma or a virus. Your doctor will want to be certain about what's causing the wheezing so that your child doesn't take medicines he or she doesn't need. And it's also important not to miss a case of asthma as this can be dangerous.
Often, if a young child has had several bouts of wheezing, doctors give them a 'trial' of asthma medicines. Your doctor will check on your child every so often to make sure the treatment is the right one.
Many of the medicines used to treat asthma have not been formally tested on young children. So, don't be surprised if your doctor is very careful about prescribing some drugs for your child. He or she just wants to keep a close eye on what is going on.
Glossary genes
Your genes are the parts of your cells that contain instructions for how your body works. Genes are found on chromosomes, structures that sit in the nucleus at the middle of each of your cells. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in your normal cells, each of which has thousands of genes. You get one set of chromosomes, and all of the genes that are on them, from each of your parents.
Allergic reaction
You have an allergic reaction when your immune system overreacts to a substance that is normally harmless. You can be allergic to particles in the air you are breathing, like pollen (which causes hay fever) or to chemicals on your skin, like detergents (which can cause a rash). People can also have an allergic reaction to drugs, like penicillin.
Immune system
Your immune system is made up of the parts of your body that fight infection. When bacteria or viruses get into your body, it's your immune system that kills them. Antibodies and white blood cells are part of your immune system. They travel in your blood and attack bacteria, viruses and other things that could damage your body.
Eczema
Eczema is a very itchy rash. It may be dark and bumpy and release fluid. Scratching makes it worse. You can get eczema anywhere on your body, but it is most common on the wrists, the insides of the elbows and the backs of the knees. If you have asthma or allergies you are more likely to get eczema than someone who doesn't have these conditions.
Hay fever
You get hay fever when your immune system reacts too strongly to pollen or mould. Your doctor may call it seasonal allergic rhinitis. The most common symptoms are sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and red, itchy eyes. You may also cough or wheeze.
source: webmd.boots
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