By Arwen Hann
copyright ChildForum

Asthma is quite common among children but many of them will grow out of it as they get older. Around one in four New Zealand children show signs of asthma at some time.

This article tells you about the known causes of asthma, treatments, and practical ways of improving the home and early childhood centre environment for an asthmatic child.

Parents of infants attending an early childhood centre may find that during winter in particular their infant gets more than the usual number of colds and coughs.  Its not unknown for infants who are coughing and wheezing to be misdiagnosed as having asthma and to be issued with an inhaler.  However, it may be that the wheezing which doesn't seem to be getting better and is lasting a long time is brought on because of being in a group environment with many other children and adults who are also coughing and wheezing.

It is useful to remember that many children under the age of one experience wheezing or coughing simply because their airways are very small. This doesn't always mean they have asthma. Most children grow out of this wheezing by the age of around three and do not need any treatment.

Symptoms may come on suddenly as part of an asthma attack or they may be present all the time. Symptoms include coughing, breathlessness, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest.

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