Living with and Caring for a Child with Asthma

The raising of children is perhaps the most important task that we will ever have in our lives. Taking our little ones from little fragile, helpless people to strong, healthy, productive people requires parents to sacrifice of themselves and their time in a way that no other job or occupation does. And with all that we must do in the usual course of parenting, there are situations and conditions that cause us to have to even a step beyond what is normally required. Children with special needs or conditions that need special attention can add a new level of hard work when it comes to parenting. One such condition is raising a child with asthma. The chronic disorder known as asthma is one in which the airway constriction, inflammation and mucus build-up can occasionally occur, in response to one or more triggers, making breathing extremely difficult or impossible.¹ Such asthma attacks result in the victim experiencing "wheezing", shortness of breath, coughing, and even loss of conciousness in extreme cases. The triggers that can bring on an attack vary from allergens, smoke, and scents to physical exertion and even stress. The attention given to asthma and the treatment thereof has increased with the growing prevalence of the disorder. It is estimated that one in four children suffer from asthma.²

For parents who have children that have recently been diagnosed with an asthmatic condition, there may be a tendency to grow worrisome. What if he has an asthma attack and I am not around? What if I am around and I do not know what to do? There is no need to be anxious because with some preparation and some self-education you can have a solid grasp on how to handle your child's asthma attacks and how to prevent them from occuring in the first place.

What To Expect As a Parent

First of all, there is no cure for asthma. But this does not mean that your child is doomed to live in a bubble. He or she can be allowed to do all of the normal "kid" activities but there may be some planning or precautions to be made. The first thing is to have a clear understanding of what factors trigger asthma in your particular child. Your child's pediatrician or allergist should be consulted to discern this. On your own you can further identify your childn's triggers by keeping a journal of your child's attacks and identify the activities or potential allergens to which he or she was exposed just prior to the attack. Some of the common triggers can be extreme exercise, pet dander, certain plants and trees, and airborne allergens. So if you have a child who is active in sports then you as a parent will need to monitor your child's physical exertion and let those who oversee his or her sports activities (such as a coach) know about your child's asthmatic condition and what to expect. So as you educate yourself, educate others.

As the parent of an asthmatic child you can also expect to do a lot of house cleaning! While your child can not possibly avoid all allergens all of the time, it is possible to reduce the risk by removing many of the obvious allergens. This will include minimizing dust in the home so plan to vacuum and dust weekly. Also avoid clutter that may attack dust and other airborne allergens. If your child is fond of stuffed animals, expect to regularly wash these items in water to remove the potential for allergen collection.

Coping With Asthma

In dealing with asthma your child may grow to have a feeling that he is "strange" or "unusual" because of his condition. It is important to boost your child's self-esteem by identifying his other strengths and skills especially those which are not hindered by asthma such as artistic or musical ability. This is a vital function in being part of your child's support team. Also encourage your child to learn all he or she can about asthma. The more your child understands it the more he or she can cope with the difficulties it may bring and will even be able to play a part in preventing it.

And of course do not forget about yourself. One of the most important steps in handling a child with asthma is to seek the support of other parents who are raising children with asthma. with all of the added stress that this condition brings, you will need the encouragement and solace that comes with knowing that you are not alone and that there are others fighting this same battle. With the high occurance of asthma in children today it should not be difficult to find other parents in your community who are dealing with similar situations as you. So find those parents and meet together to help one another, share information, and encourage one another.

How To Plan Ahead for Asthma

Preventing asthma attacks is as simple as planning ahead and using some common sense. As mentioned before there is extra house cleaning that can be done regularly that will reduce the triggers in your home. Aside from reducing the collection of dust, be sure to keep moist areas such as laundry rooms, basements, and bathrooms clean and well-ventilate. Repair leaks in plumbing to avoid mold. For some asthma sufferers insects like roaches have been identified as potential triggers so hire a quality pest control company to treat your home on a regular basis. Of course be diligent to identify triggers such as scents (perfumes, scented candles), cleaners, or home improvement by-products (paint, drywall dust) that can aggravate your child's asthma. It is unreasonable to think that all possible triggers can be completely eliminated, but you can significantly reduce them and create a safer environment for your child. So do not be too overprotective and certainly do not go overboard or you risk alienating your child. Simply do the best you can but remember that asthma is a very real part of your life and your child's life and it can not be completely avoided. The point here is to make life as normal as is possible considering the circumstances.

In addition to avoidance of the specific triggers there are other practical steps to preventing asthma attacks and making your life as a parent easier. Whenever your child will be away from home, always pack the proper medicine that your child will need while away, such as an inhaler. Give specific instructions to whomever will be overseeing your child while he or she is away from home concerning the administering of medicines and what to do in case of an emergency. It would be a good idea, if you own a computer, to type up a short list of do's and don't's concerning your child's asthma and print a copy to send with your child he or she stays away from home. If your child spends the night at a friend's house you can print copy of the list for the friend's parents. Or keep a copy with your child's sports gear and let his or her coach know about it so that the coach can refer to it in case an issue arises. Taking such steps will bring a sense of peace and reduce anxiety for you, others, and your child. The truth of the matter is sometimes your child will have an attack. You can not prevent that from ever happening. But you want to be prepared when it does.

As with most child disordes, asthma is not a condition that needs to ruin your life or your child's. Use common sense. Educate yourself and your child. Plan ahead. With some practicality and encouragement from others you can reduce your personal stress and give your son or daughter the childhood that the he or she deserves and you can remove the fear that something like asthma may tend to bring. Good luck to you and your child as you face asthma together.

Sources Cited

¹"Asthma: What Causes Asthma" . Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

² Lilly CM (2005). "Diversity of asthma: evolving concepts of pathophysiology and lessons from genetics". J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 115 (4 Suppl): S526-31.