Frequently Asked Questions

• What is asthma?
• What causes asthma?
• Will my child grow out of asthma?
• Can asthma be cured?
• Will steroids stunt my child's growth?
• Is asthma inherited and will my other children get asthma?
• Will i have to take medicine forever?  Every day?
• Who needs to use a spacer and why should I use one?
• Why does my child get an asthma attach on special occations?
• What are triggers?

 
 

These are the top ten questions people with asthma and their families ask our educators.

What is asthma?

Normal airways Irritated airway

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs.

We all need air to breathe and the lungs are the transport system that delivers air. Lungs are like giant natural sponges with connecting tubes throughout. The tubes known as airways are different sizes, starting off quite large and ending very small (the size of uncooked spaghetti). The airways of a person who has asthma are oversensitive to certain substances known as "triggers".

The muscle surrounding walls of the airways become tight and the airway narrows. The airways then become inflamed, and start to swell. There is often sticky mucus or phlegm produced. All these events make moving air in and out of your lungs difficult.

What causes asthma?

The cause of asthma is still unknown though scientists are beginning to understand what contributes to the development of asthma.

1. asthma can be inherited
2. many aspects of modern lifestyles - such as changes in housing and diet and a more hygienic environment - may have contributed to the rise in asthma
3. smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of a child developing asthma
4. second-hand smoke increases the chance of developing asthma
5. irritants in the workplace may lead to a person developing asthma

Anyone can develop asthma at any age. As the airways become narrower and irritated so the development of the symptoms occur.

The symptoms of asthma are:

• coughing especially at night
• wheezing or a whistling noise in the chest
• shortness of breath
• a tight feeling in the chest.

These symptoms vary from one person to another and also vary from time to time within the same person. Some people may have all the symptoms, while some may only have a cough or wheeze. Symptoms can also vary in intensity

Will my child grow out of asthma?

Approximately 50% children diagnosed with asthma may become symptom free by the time they reach adolescents/adulthood. As a rule this usually occurs in children with mild asthma, children with moderate to severe persistent asthma have asthma all their lives. What happens is as a child’s airways mature they are able to cope with irritants more effectively. The reasons for this are unclear, but research is currently investigating childhood asthma to answer questions such as this.

Can asthma be cured?

No, asthma cannot be cured but asthma can be controlled.
Good control involves:

1. Taking asthma medications as directed
2. Monitoring your asthma
3. Staying active and healthy
4. Where ever possible avoid triggers ‘
5. Understand and have a written asthma plan
6. Working in partnership with your practice nurse/GP, and by having a regular check up.

With good management your child can lead an active life.
Remember! You should be controlling your asthma not asthma controlling you!

Will steroids stunt my child’s growth?

The type of steroid used in asthma are called corticosteroids, these steroids are already produced in the body naturally. They help prevent inflammation.

Corticosteroids are quite different from the steroids that athletes and bodybuilders use.

The choice of treatment for asthma is inhaled corticosteroids which go straight down to the airways, therefore very little is absorbed into the rest of the body.

Studies have been carried out on the use of low- moderate doses of long term inhaled steroid treatments. Growth was seen to improve because the asthma was better controlled and the children enjoyed more strenuous activities.

Good management of your child’s asthma ensures they are using the lowest dose of inhaled corticosteroid that keeps them symptoms free.

Short courses of oral steroids will not give any long term side effects and affect your child’s growth.

Children who are on corticosteroids should have their growth monitored by their practice nurse every six months.

Is asthma inherited and will my other children get asthma?

Yes, asthma or the tendency to develop asthma is inherited.
Where there is a strong family history of allergy (atopy) such as, asthma, hay fever, eczema there will be a stronger tendency that a child in a family will develop asthma.

It is believed that a mixture of genetic and environmental factors determine whether one child goes on to develop asthma and their brothers and sisters do not

 

Will I have to take medicine forever? Every day?

Triggers

Common triggers are:   House dust mites   Pollen   Pets - e.g. Cats   Cigarette smoke   Weather changes - e.g. drop in temperature Colds and Flu Exercise Stress Perfume Some medications

Yes, you will need to take medicine daily.

By using an inhaled corticosteroid as prescribed daily, it will decrease the swelling and mucus in your airways. It does this by blocking the reaction/inflammation in the airways and allowing the airways to return to normal.

The effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids depends on regular use. Inhaled coticosteriods are taken morning and evening, even when you are feeling well.

It is only with daily prescribed use of inhalers that good management can be maintained.

A few people after being seen regularly by their Doctor and with good asthma management may have periods where they do not need medication. By working in partnership with your practice nurse/GP you will be advised when you can stop your medication.

Who needs to use a spacer and why should I use one?

One of the most difficult tasks to do when you have asthma is use a MDI (metered dose inhaler.) The co-ordination required to get the correct amount of medicine into your airways is tricky Everyone from child to adult who uses a MDI should use a spacer because, using a spacer with a MDI makes the task easier and has several benefits:

• Removes the need for good co-ordination
• More medication is carried to the lungs when an MDI is used with a spacer, making a spacer with an MDI a more efficient system to use.
• There is a decreased occurrence of local side effects, oral thrush, hoarseness and reaction cough from the medication hitting the back of the throat.

 
 

Why does my child get an asthma attack on special occasions?

Apart from viral infections, over excitement and laughter are perhaps the two emotions most likely to bring on symptoms in children.

Christmas, parties, birthdays and holidays are the most exciting events for children so parents need to be especially vigilant at these times.

What are triggers?

A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and sets off the symptoms of asthma. Common triggers include colds or 'flu, cigarette smoke, exercise and allergies to things like pollen, furry or feathery animals or house-dust mites. Everyone's asthma is different and your child will probably have several triggers.

For some of the common triggers of Asthma, see "Triggers" to the right or go to the Downloads page for more information about allergies and triggers.