Treatment and Education for Children with Asthma Exacerbation

Asthma is a medical condition that occurs due to a lung condition that causes narrowing of the airways to provoke attacks of spasm difficulties in breathing. It has a connection to an allergic reaction or a form of hypersensitivity. An asthma exacerbation (attack) starts when the airways swell and get an inflammation. The muscles around the airways contract, generate extra mucus and narrow breathing tubes.

During an attack, the child might cough, have breathing difficulties and wheeze. Asthma attacks could be minor but improve with home remedies, but a severe exacerbation is life-threatening and requires appropriate medication.

Treatment for Children with Asthma Exacerbation

The best treatment for asthma is to treat the exacerbation and prevent other symptoms. Depending on the age, signs, and triggers of an asthmatic attack, a child needs to use one of these types of medicine.

Quick-relief medications

Below are the types of quick-relief medicine for short-term use to open swollen airways that limit breathing during an attack.

i.Short-acting beta agonists

Short-acting beta-agonists are those that a child inhales to ease the symptoms during an asthma exacerbation. The medications act within minutes and their effect lasts for several hours.

ii.Oral and intravenous corticosteroids

These are medication to relieve airway inflammation due to severe asthma. They are for short-term use because they can cause severe side effects if a child uses this for long.

iii.Ipratropium(AtroventHFA)

Doctors prescribe Ipratropium inhaled medication for instant relief from an asthma attack by relaxing the airway to simply breathing.

iv.Immunomodulatory agents

This form of medication is appropriate for fast relief of symptoms in children with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Long-Term Treatment for Children with Asthma Exacerbation

Preventive long-term control medications help to reduce the cause of inflammation of the airways and in most cases are for everyday use. They are the cornerstone of Asthma treatment because they control it to minimize chances of an attack. Long-term control medication for asthma is in these types.

a. Inhaled corticosteroids

Asthmatic children should use these medications for days to weeks till they get the maximum benefit. Long-term use might slow growth in some children but the effects are minor, and the preventive benefits outnumber the possible side effects.

b. Combination inhalers

These inhalers contain long-acting beta agonists (LABA) and an inhaled corticosteroid. They relieve asthma that another medication is unable to control. Administration of LABA medication should be with corticosteroids containing inhaler because they have a risk of triggering a severe asthma exacerbation.

c. Leukotriene modifiers

Leukotriene modifiers are oral medications that prevent symptoms of asthma for up to 24 hours. There has been a link of these medications to some psychological reactions in some rare instances thus it is essential to observe a child and report any unusual response carefully.

d. Theophylline

Theophylline is a daily pill that helps in keeping the airways open. Medicine in this class relaxes the muscles around the airways to simplify breathing. Education for Children with Asthma Exacerbation It is essential to educate children about how to avoid and reliever symptoms of asthma.

1. Write and teach the children on identifying symptoms that show an attack is imminent and medicine to take

2. Keeping an inhaler close for quick relief if an exacerbation occurs

3. Monitor asthma level with a peak flow meter to determine if the treatment is working

4.Create and spend time in pet-free areas because flakes from their skin can cause allergies that trigger asthma 5.Identify environmental triggers because the cause is different for each person. Dust, tobacco smoke, mold, pet dander and air pollution are the frequent cause. Some foods also cause attacks. 6.Keep indoor humidity levels at moderate levels of 40 to 50% if they are sensitive to mold and mite thus the kids should not crank up the evaporative cooler or humidifier. 7.Maintain a clean indoor environment to control possible triggers. Extensive knowledge of asthma exacerbation helps to control it making it essential to share the education on treatment and prevention with children.