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Overview
Symptoms of infant asthma aren't always easy to spot at first, and even more difficult if the infant is unable to communicate verbally what is troubling him. When an infant experiences a severe asthma attack, inflammation of the airways prevents sufficient air from entering the lungs. This, in turn, causes the sufferer to wheeze and gasp for air. Inhalers or bronchodilators are prescribed to asthma sufferers to circumvent full-blown asthma attacks and lessen their severity.
Warning
Coughing is nature's way of trying to clear the airways in order to breathe more easily. A chronic cough is not normal and could be a symptom of asthma. If your child wakes up in the night coughing and just can't quit, you may want to get him checked out at his pediatrician's office to get a diagnosis. Inflammation of the airways is serious and may cause asphyxiation and death, should the victim fail to get air into his lungs.
Effects
Chronic coughing due to symptoms of asthma may lead to cyanosis (bluish discoloration) of the skin and lips. Bluish skin or lips signals dangerous oxygen levels so low that the body is already suffering oxygen deprivation. Immediate treatment is necessary to get oxygen into the victim's lungs before the shutdown of major vital organs.
Features
Symptoms of infant asthma may include a runny nose and an itchy throat. A frequent headache may be experienced. Due to the exertion of chronic coughing, the infant may display extreme fatigue and sleepiness. Ventolin may be prescribed to help the child breathe and ease severity of the symptoms.
Significance
Fast breathing may be a sign of infant asthma although it may be the beginning of an upper respiratory infection. Don't wait to find out. Take the infant to the emergency room for treatment and a professional diagnosis.
Triggers
Infant asthma symptoms may be brought on by triggers; everyday allergens that normally wouldn't affect non-asthmatics. These certain triggers may be dust, allergens, pollen or an unhealthy particulate count in a big city. Liquid medication, inhalers and breathing treatments may be necessary to help alleviate severe infant asthma symptoms.
