Act Quickly During an Asthma Emergency, says St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Physician

You notice your child is making a funny wheezing sound when he breathes. Or she has a cough that gets worse at night. Did you know that these may be symptoms of asthma?

About nine million children in the United States have asthma, a chronic disease that causes the lungs’ airways to become inflamed or swollen,” says Dr. Jonathan Steinfeld, a pediatric pulmonologist at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. “When this happens, the airways make more mucus and the muscles tighten, making breathing harder.”

During an asthma attack, a child may have any or all of the following symptoms: coughing, wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing out, shortness of breath, or rapid breathing.

In some cases, medications may not be able to control an asthma attack and immediate medical help should be sought.  The following symptoms are indicators of an asthma emergency:  

• A child’s coloring changes, including bluish or gray lips and fingernails
• A child can’t talk because of difficulty breathing
• The areas between a child’s ribs or at the base of the neck can be seen while breathing in
• The rescue medications aren’t working after repeated use or the symptoms return after five or 10 minutes

In an asthma emergency, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. When possible, use an emergency department that specializes in the care of children. If you do need to go to the emergency department, take a list of medications your child is taking, including the dosages. You may want to keep a current list with you in your purse or wallet.

According to Dr. Steinfeld, asthma can be triggered by many different things.

“Respiratory infections, including colds, flu and bacterial infections can trigger asthma,” he says. “For children with allergies to pollens, molds, animal dander and food, exposure to the allergen can lead to an asthma flare.”

Asthma flares also can be brought on if a child is around things that irritate the airways, including strong chemical smells and secondhand smoke. If a child has asthma, he or she should keep away from people who are smoking. A smoke-free house can help improve a child’s overall health and prevent asthma flares.

Dust mites that live in bedding, pillows, soft furniture, carpets and stuffed animals may also make a child’s asthma worse. To help control dust mites, wash bedding in hot water once a week and dry it completely. Use dust covers on pillows and mattresses and vacuum carpets and soft furniture once a week. For the stuffed toys, try to limit the number of toys and choose toys that can be safely washed and dried.

“Researchers have found that exposure to cockroaches and other insects in the home can also trigger an asthma flare,” says Steinfeld. “Parents can take steps to eliminate these household pests by keeping the kitchen clean and free of clutter where they can hide. Store food in airtight containers. Use roach baits or traps instead of sprays that also may trigger asthma.”

Dr. Steinfeld says that parents should work with their child’s doctor to make a plan for managing their child’s asthma.

“Talk to your doctor about the different medicines your child needs to take,” he says. “You should understand the difference between control medicines that need to be taken daily and those that are only used when your child is having an asthma attack – known as rescue medicines.”

While asthma cannot be cured, you and your child can work with your child’s doctor to control the disease. To learn more about childhood asthma, go to the American Lung Association’s Web site at www.lungusa.org.

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is a 189-bed pediatric hospital dedicated to the physical and emotional well-being of children located in Philadelphia.  A leader in pediatric care since 1875, St. Christopher’s nationally recognized programs provide exceptional care to children from throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and around the world.  Through academic affiliations with Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine, the hospital’s 270 leading pediatric specialists offer clinical expertise in a wide range of advanced pediatric specialties.

St. Christopher’s has a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and its Burn Center is the only dedicated pediatric burn center in the Philadelphia area.  In addition, its Sleep program is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and St. Christopher’s Cystic Fibrosis Center is accredited as a Care Center by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is part of the Tenet Health System.