| One of the more difficult things in being a | | | | doctor in a different direction. Understand |
| parent is to care for the health and | | | | that both types of coughing, indicate illness |
| well-being of our children. This no doubt | | | | but it's the type of cough that helps a |
| causes many of us anxiety and to worry if are | | | | doctor accurately diagnose the problem |
| doing the right things to care for our | | | | |
| children. One of the biggest problems we | | | | Wheezing. |
| have is that children simply do not come with | | | | |
| an operator's manual that explains everything | | | | Wheezing is a whistling type of sound that |
| that can go wrong. | | | | you can hear when your child breathes. |
| | | | Although most commonly associated with |
| A good example of this is found in dealing | | | | asthma, some do not wheeze while others |
| with respiratory illness and disorders. Kids | | | | without asthma have a tendency to wheeze when |
| seem to pick up and share every flu and other | | | | ill. Again, accurate diagnosis is critical |
| illness that makes an appearance at the local | | | | to determine the cause and if it is asthma |
| daycare or school. Our job is parents is to | | | | develop an effective treatment plan. |
| determine if our sick child has one of those | | | | |
| common flu-like illnesses or if the symptoms | | | | Chest Congestion and Tightness. |
| point to something much more serious. | | | | |
| | | | Chest congestion is symptomatic of influenza, |
| The problem with asthma is that the symptoms | | | | but can also indicate a more serious |
| are often very similar to bronchitis and | | | | respiratory disease like asthma. |
| other very common respiratory infections. | | | | |
| | | | Shortness of Breath |
| Childhood Asthma Symptoms: | | | | |
| | | | Many asthma sufferers experience shortness of |
| Coughing. | | | | breath so profound that they feel as if |
| | | | they're being smothered. This is serious |
| Coughing is caused by a buildup of mucus in | | | | because asthma actually constricts air |
| the bronchial tubes that needs to be cleared. | | | | passageways making it almost impossible to |
| Mucus is a good indication of a respiratory | | | | get enough air into the lungs |
| infection or irritation. Coughing however is | | | | |
| symptomatic of many childhood and adult | | | | These signs and symptoms may indicate that |
| illnesses. Although coughing is a symptom, | | | | your child is suffering from asthma. While |
| the type of cough plays a role in identifying | | | | as a parent you cannot be expected to |
| and understanding the underlying cause. | | | | understand how these various symptoms |
| Simply put, a rattling or loose type cough | | | | interact or be able to accurately diagnose |
| can suggest one type of illness, while a | | | | and illness, your medical doctor can. |
| tight or hacking cough can lead a medical | | | | |