Severe Asthma in Children Decreased Lung Function Later On

Children who have severe asthma early in childhood may lead to an earlier occurrence of loss of lung function during adolescence and even more serious disease in adulthood. Early diagnoses and treatment for children with severe asthma is essential to aide in the development of asthma progression.

Emroy School of Medicine researchers report on their study of how air flow limitation alters during childhood and how it affects the disease severity later on in life.

Dr. Ann Fitzpatrick, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics formerly of Emroy now at University School of Medicine, states severe asthma in children is a difficult disorder. It is essential that health practitioners to determine those children with severe asthma that are at risk for lung function decrease. With an early diagnoses can alter treatment plans and educate families on lifestyle changes that could aide children with severe asthma breathe easier as they become older

Researchers had used information from children with mild to moderate and severe asthma who enrolled in the long term National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Severe Asthma Research Program. The ages of children were eight to eleven years old at the first evaluation and 11 to 14 years old at follow-up visits. Researchers had examined alterations in children's respiratory health over an average three year period by using comparison measurements of symptoms and medications used for lung function.

Researchers had discovered that children with severe asthma had presented a higher rate of daily symptoms and hospitalizations during the past year regardless of high doses of ICS and control medication, and they also had immensely lower lung function in comparison to children with mild to moderate asthma. Researchers also recorded that daily asthmatic symptoms like wheezing and sensitivity to airborne substances during the beginning evaluation were strong indications in decreases of lung function of more than one percent each year.

Researchers surmise that children with severe asthma have an early loss of lung function during adolescent years that is linked with an heightened rate of wheezing and asthmatic symptoms and larger allergic sensitization during childhood. More studies are required to decide if the loss of lung function is because of a slower rate of lung growth or to progressive changes in lung tissue. Also, to analyze the mechanisms which control the reactions of severely asthmatic children to ICS treatment.

ICS treatment is the administering of Inhaled Corticosteroids such as Azmacort and Flovent. In past research ICS has been shown to be effective to aide in controlling mild to moderate persistent asthma in school age children.

In 2007 researcher was found that had shown children with mild to moderate asthma who had used ICS had 20% less control over their asthma than children who did not use the treatment. The evidence held up even in cases where children had severe asthma.

It is currently estimated that nine million children in the United States today have lifetime asthma. Many parents are turning to alternative treatments instead of medications which can carry severe side effects.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic spinal adjustments increase the range of motion in the thoracic cage and increase arterial supply. There has been research which has shown that chiropractic care can aide in asthma control. Patients have noted that asthma conditions were totally relieved or were extremely low.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatments and herbs are generally used in combination when treating asthma. There are numerous conditions in which can cause asthma therefore, the herbs used are different for each patient with asthma.

Acupuncture has shown a few positive results and in children acupressure may also be used. Treatment schedules can vary usually it is once a day or every other day then at twice a week when symptoms seem to be controlled and once a month when the asthmatic condition is maintained.

Yoga

Yoga practice is appropriate for respiratory issues. Regular practice of yoga may actually maintain asthmatic conditions so medications daily are not needed. Breathing exercises in yoga open the lungs. Certain yoga poses can actually provide breathing control and help in the avoidance of asthmatic attacks such as in Pranayama. Sources:

Medical News Today

New York City Asthma Initiative

Science Daily

Alternative Medicine in Detroit