Approximately 25 million women, men, and kids in the United States have the breathing disorder called asthma. About 60% of asthma sufferers also have allergies.
If you’ve noticed that your child or teen has trouble breathing, they may have allergic asthma, rather than standard allergies. The distinction is important, because treatment can be quite different in some cases.
In West Los Angeles, California, Catherine Fuller, MD, encourages you to pay attention to your child’s breathing, especially if they have allergies. We offer allergy testing and asthma diagnosis to ensure each individual gets the right treatment.
What are the signs that your child’s breathing issues are related to allergic asthma? Following are seven.
If you’ve noticed a change in your child’s breathing and they already have allergies, they may have allergic asthma. Triggers for both allergies and asthma include:
Even a food allergy could trigger an allergic asthma attack. The most dangerous form of allergic reaction is anaphylaxis, in which your airways swell and shut down, cutting off your air supply.
“Wheezer” was a cute character in the “Our Gang” comedies almost a century ago, but wheezing isn’t cute at all. You may notice a rasping sound when your child exhales, and that’s a sign you should pay attention to.
Dust or allergens often cause wheezing, as can the common cold. Up to 30% of babies wheeze, due to their shorter airways. But if your child is a toddler or older, they may have allergic asthma.
If your child has trouble sleeping due to breathing problems, they may have allergic asthma that wakes them up. They may wheeze, cough, or gasp just before awakening.
Gasping for air or snoring could also be a sign of a sleep breathing disorder called sleep apnea. You may also notice them grinding their teeth as they sleep, a habit called bruxism.
If your child complains of chest pain or other uncomfortable sensation, it could be due to congested airways. Have a medical professional investigate any breathing problems.
If your child has allergic asthma, they may not feel healthy enough to engage in normal kid activities, such as running around or playing sports. In some cases, they could have a type of asthma that’s triggered by exercise — or overheating — itself.
The most dangerous sign of allergic asthma is struggling to breathe. If you already know they have asthma, give them their inhaler right away. Try to figure out if a substance — such as pet dander or pollen — triggered their symptoms.
If the inhaler doesn’t immediately improve their breathing, call 911. A severe attack could completely cut off their air supply.
Autoimmune diseases, such as allergies and asthma, usually are influenced by genetics. If your child has breathing issues, and there’s a history of allergies, asthma, or both in your family, they may have allergic asthma.
We diagnose and treat asthma so your child can breathe freely and fully again. We may prescribe an inhaler that they use either in preventive situations where they might have an attack or reactively if they do experience one.
If we suspect that their asthma is triggered by allergies, we also recommend allergy testing. The test helps you understand what substances your child should avoid in order to reduce their risk for an asthma attack.
Does your child wheeze, cough, or gasp regularly? Schedule an appointment for allergy testing and asthma evaluation at Catherine Fuller, MD. Phone us at 310-909-1910 or reach out with our online request form.
