What parents should know about their children's behavior

On a cold evening, I was having tea when the doorbell rang. Shalini, a friend of mine. She was very worried. She was holding her son Dinuka. Dinuka was gasping for breath, his chest was clearly heaving. As a doctor, I have seen things like this in the clinic. But this was different, because this was my friend's child. I quickly took them inside. I realized that this was not a normal visit, this was an emergency .

Shalini knew Dinuka had a cough, especially during cold weather. But tonight it was much worse. He was coughing more than usual and was short of breath. “What’s wrong with him? Why can’t he breathe?” Shalini asked in fear. Dinuka had something that most children don’t have – asthma . But it was scary for a mother to see it with her own eyes.

What is asthma?

Shalini was standing nearby while I checked on Dinuka. Dinuka's chest was moving up and down rapidly, and he was looking at me as if trying to understand what was happening. I could tell he was scared. I asked Shalini if ​​she had an inhaler. She nodded, "Don't worry," I said.

Asthma is a disease that affects the small airways in the lungs. The airways become swollen and sensitive. Then they narrow and fill slowly. For Dinuka, the cold weather today must have brought on her asthma. Her shoulders were hunched, as if she was using every muscle in her body to breathe. “It’s like breathing through a tube,” I told Shalini, “as if someone was pressing on the tube.”

Is it normal for children to develop asthma?

After relaxing a bit, Shalini asked, “Will he always be like this? Will he always have to suffer from this?” It was so sad to hear that. “It’s normal for children to get asthma,” I said. “One in four or five children has asthma. It usually starts between the ages of 2 and 8. It may get better for a while, or it may last for a while. But somehow we can manage it so that asthma doesn’t control his life.”

Asthma is manageable. Many children with asthma live happy, active lives. I wanted to make Shalini understand that because I knew that hope would give her strength.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

I told Shalini about the symptoms of Dinuka's asthma. It's good for every parent to know about this.

• Cough: Dinuka had a cough, especially at night and in the early morning. This is common for people with asthma. At that time, the airways become even narrower.
• Choking : Dinuka made a choking sound while breathing. This indicates that the airway is blocked.
• Difficulty breathing: Dinuka was having a hard time breathing. He couldn't play or laugh.
• Chest tightness: Dinuka couldn't describe his symptoms, but he was holding his chest. That shows that his chest is tight. That happens when you have asthma.

Shalini was listening carefully. But she was still scared. Understandably so. Any parent who sees their child struggling to breathe is scared.

What are the causes of asthma?

“What causes this?” Shalini asked. There are many reasons for asthma. They are different for every child.

• Cold or flu: The day before yesterday, I had a cough and a cold that didn't go away. That may have caused asthma.
• Sudden changes in weather: It's very cold this evening. That could also be a reason.
• Allergens : Things like dust, pollen , and animal dander can also trigger asthma. Shalini remembered that she had dusted Dinuka's room this afternoon. That might have caused the asthma.

It is very important to find out the causes of asthma. Because if you avoid those things, you can reduce the occurrence of asthma. But sometimes, asthma still occurs no matter how hard we try. That is why it is very important to have an action plan.

How long does an asthma attack last?

After Dinuka's breathing improved, Shalini asked how long an asthma attack would last. It depends on how severe the asthma is and how quickly the medication is given. It can last from a few hours to a few days. After the medication was given, Dinuka's symptoms subsided a bit.

What should you do if you have an asthma attack?

As Dinuka's breathing improved, Shalini's fear also lessened. She wanted to know what to do if something like this happened again.

Things to do soon

• Don't worry: First of all, don't worry. It's not easy. But children imitate our emotions. So if Shalini gets worried, Dinuka will get worried too.
• Give reliever medicine: I took my Ventolin inhaler and put in a spacer . The spacer allows the medicine to go straight into the lungs. I gave Dinuka 4 puffs.
• Wait 4 minutes: I set a timer. 4 minutes may seem like a long time, but it's necessary to see if the medicine is working.
• Get more help: If Dinuka didn't get better, I told Shalini to call 1990 or take Dinuka to the hospital immediately.

How to manage asthma long-term

After Dinuka's breathing improved, we sat with him on the sofa. He was sleepy, but very relaxed. Shalini wanted to know what to do to prevent something like this from happening again.

Medicines 💊

I taught him about the medications he could take to manage his asthma.

• Relievers: These are fast-acting medications, like Ventolin. They help open up the airways during an asthma attack.
• Preventers: These medications must be taken daily. They prevent the airways from swelling.
• Anti-inflammatory agents: Some children are given medications if they have a lot of asthma. They reduce the swelling in the airways.

Preventers are important because they reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. I told Shalini that if she took a preventer every day, she could control Dinuka's asthma .

Let's create a climate-friendly home 🏡

The next day, Shalini called me. She wanted to know how to make a house more comfortable for Dinuka.

What can be done?

• Quit smoking: 🚭Shalini's husband already doesn't smoke. But I told him to make sure that anyone who comes to the house doesn't smoke where Dinuka is.
• Reduce dust and allergens: I suggested removing as many thick curtains and carpets as possible, putting dust-mite-proof covers on Dinuka's bed, and reducing soft toys.
• About animals: Shalini had a cat named Pinky. I told her not to let Pinky come into Dinuka's room, and to vacuum regularly.

An asthma action plan 📝

To further help Shalini, I helped her create an asthma action plan, which tells her what to do if she has another asthma attack.

Things to include in the Action Plan

• When an asthma attack occurs: Don't panic, give your medicine. Give 4 puffs from your reliever inhaler with a spacer, wait 4 minutes.
• Check again: If symptoms do not improve, give the medicine again. If symptoms do not improve, go to the hospital immediately.
• In an emergency: If the person is not breathing, is turning blue, or is unable to speak, call 1990 immediately. Until then, give 4 puffs every 4 minutes.

Having an action plan made Shalini realize that she could manage this.

Let's tell Dinuka about the dress.

Two weeks later, Shalini brought Dinuka to the clinic. He is now much better and playing happily. Shalini said that Dinuka is now using the inhaler on his own.

Let's live with asthma.

Asthma is not something to be afraid of.

• Take medicine every day: Give your child a daily preventer to reduce asthma attacks.
• Teach Dinuka about asthma: When Dinuka grows up, teach him what causes asthma and how to manage it.

Some quick tips for parents📝

Before Shalini left, I gave her some quick tips. 😊

You are not alone 😊

That evening with Shalini and Dinuka reminded me of how dangerous asthma can be if we don't know about it. But it also showed me how much a mother is willing to do for her child. You are not alone. Many parents have gone through this experience. With knowledge, love, and a good plan, we can help children like Dinuka live happy lives.

If you are facing a situation like this, don't panic, use what you have, and remember that you are not alone.