The Relationship between Asthma and Child Allergies

Is Asthma An Allergy?

Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the bronchial airways which affects the proper breathing of the child. This inflammation causes the normal function of the airways to become excessive and over-reactive, thus producing increased mucus, mucosal swelling and muscle contraction. If severe this can cause severe shortness of breath and low blood oxygen. Narrowed air passages result in the symptoms of an asthma attack and these include:

	Coughing
	Night-time cough
	Wheezing – identified by a whistling sound in the lungs while breathing
	Excessive movement of the belly when breathing
	Pulling or tugging in at the base of the neck while breathing
	Difficulty in breathing
	Tightening of the chest

The decrease in air-intake causes decrease in the blood oxygen levels; this in turn will affect the energy levels of the child and at times could be life threatening. In order to reduce the extent of inflammation in the airways and bring back normal breathing it is necessary to use inhaled and/or oral steroids and asthma medications.

Asthma in itself is not an allergic reaction; however, child allergies can result in the occurrence of asthma attacks.  An attack of asthma can be triggered by an allergic reaction.  Some of the common allergens causing child asthma and child allergies are:

	Mold
	Dust mites
	Pollen
	Cockroaches
	Cat and/or dog allergens

Some children affected by allergic reactions shows symptoms similar to that of asthma; however in the final diagnosis the doctor might conclude that the child is not having asthma. In order to conclude that the child is having asthma one has to establish the child’s asthma history e.g. multiple attacks. The child has to be treated either for asthma or for allergy as the case may be in order to normalize its lung function.

Symptoms such as coughing and wheezing are common for asthma and allergy; however, the child may not have asthma but only allergy.

Treating Allergy-Related Allergy Attacks

Irrespective of whether the child is affected by asthma or not, the child’s breathing should be restored by restoring normal functions of lung and airways.

Both asthma and child allergies warrant stopping of allergic reactions; this is done by administering medications such as chemical blocker, decongestants or both and treating for restoring airway function. The reduction in airway inflammation can be achieved by using oral or inhaled steroids. You may have to use steroids which are fast-acting and long-acting. Fast-acting drugs are administered every few hours to maintain an open airway whereas long-acting drugs eliminate the airway inflammation over a period of time. Depending on the severity of the attacks these medicines are given either orally or through an inhaler or intravenously.

Once the child has been affected by asthma and child allergy, it is essential to establish a proper maintenance schedule with necessary instructions to follow in the event of a future attack.  The schedule normally will consist of allergy and asthma preventing medicines and combination medicines and these may be used for effectively managing asthma and allergies.

In case the child is affected both by allergy and asthma the primary importance will be for asthma management unless the allergies are very severe. Since asthma affects your lung function badly importance is to be given for managing this than managing allergy symptoms which are moderate.

The first step in managing asthma and allergy is to reduce or eliminate the exposure of the child for allergy triggers. Medical interventions come only after that. The parents should realize this and take necessary action to reduce exposure of the child for that allergen. The need for chronic asthma medication and/or steroid use may be totally avoided with good allergy management.

The child’s parents should locate a good doctor/ allergist around the vicinity of their home for treating the child with allergy/ asthma. The child and the parent should be comfortable with the doctor’s treatment.

Asthma and allergy prevent normal breathing of the child thereby reducing the oxygen intake. Oxygen is the elixir of human life. In the absence of proper intake of oxygen the child’s health will deteriorate and is likely to cause damage to life in case of severe asthma and allergy attacks.

Hence, for children affected by asthma or asthma-like symptoms, it is essential that a good asthma and child allergy management plan is in place.