Infants, Toddlers and Asthma

Although more readily diagnosed in older children and adults, asthma (a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system) affects all ages, including infants. The infection causes excessive mucous and narrows air and breathing tubes which create a wheezing sound and cough and can make it hard to breathe. Asthma is more common in those with a family history of allergy. Also, infants born prematurely are more prone to early respiratory disorders and many are later diagnosed with asthma.
If your child has asthma, you are not alone.  It’s the leading serious chronic childhood illness, affecting almost 5 million children.
Although asthma is an illness that can be affected by many different things, children are more likely to have asthma if:

• there is a family history of asthma or allergies
• they are exposed to tobacco smoke
• they are poor or live in the inner city
• they have less early contact with other children
• they are African Americans.

Seasonal weather changes, infections, and irritants, such as animal dander and dust, are just a few more factors which can trigger an asthmatic episode. The goal of asthma therapy, regardless of age, is to achieve unobstructed breathing…and the time to start is very early. 

Click here for more from the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America

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