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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 27 August 2020
A woman holding her young son

A child suffering from asthma can give parents many tense moments and sleepless nights. Early diagnosis, right treatment and the awareness of triggers are the best ways to deal with it, says Sangeeta, a concerned mother.

When was your son first diagnosed with Asthma?

At the age of three, he was diagnosed with childhood asthma. It is a common problem today with many kids due to pollution and dust. Also, artificially coloured food triggered it. 

What were his early symptoms?

Breathing heavily, wheezing and also finding it difficult to breathe.

Is there a history of asthma in your family?

No, we have no history of asthma in the family.

What do you think may have been the cause for his asthma?

Dust and pollution and artificially coloured food.

Did you struggle to find the right doctor for him?

No. I just consulted his pediatrician. Since it was not a serious case of asthma and the doctor said he will come out of it as he grows up, around 5-6 years of age, I stuck with the treatment the pediatrician suggested which has also helped him.

Does Childhood Asthma Recur?

What treatment is he currently on?

He is on nasal inhalers- budecort and asthalin, which are both used as SOS

Were there any side-effects of the medicines?

There were no side effects of these inhalers.

How has his lifestyle changed at home? What changes did you have to make?

I make sure that sweeping and dusting of the house is done at least 3-4 hours prior to him coming home from school. That really helps because when you do dusting or sweeping, the dust that goes up in the air in the process takes anywhere between 4-6 hours to settle down. 

What are his triggers? How did you determine them?

Pollution and dust are definitely his triggers, as well as artificial food allergy. I used to keep a track of his daily activites (specially if something new was eaten or some new activity carried out) to determine what could have triggered it. 

Do you think pollution has a role to play in his condition?

Oh yes, absolutely so.

What is your constant fear?

A bad attack of asthma. But I am definitely more prepared now.

Please describe your experience of managing his condition.

It was difficult at first. I used to be very scared because he would be uneasy and I was always apprehensive about a possible attack. But things are much improved ever since he has been on proper treatment. I also felt more at ease when I became aware of how to deal with an emergency.  I also came to know the triggers, so I made sure either to avoid it or be prepared to deal with it. 

How does he cope in school?

School has never been an issue so far. And because the doctors were sure that it is not a serious case, I did not find it necessary to have any special arrangements made at school. However, I did inform his teacher about it and she said there were loads of kids with this problem and they already knew what to do in case of an emergency. But they also assured me they will look out for him. Besides, I also told my child that if he ever felt uneasy in school, he must always inform his teacher. 

Are any activities restricted for him?

Nothing really. He was allowed to do everything. Only for sometime, when he was sick due to wheezing, the doctor asked me not to take him to any indoor play areas since these closed spaces often aggravate the situation and sometimes can even be triggers as many kids carry allergy and others tend to pick them up. 

What activities are encouraged to build his capacity?

All kind of sports, swimming being particularly effective. 

What were some of the challenges you faced and what is your advice to patients who face similar challenges?

Be more aware of the triggers and please see a good doctor and follow the line of treatment advised properly. Do not ever stop treatment on your own even if you notice improvement in the child. Do not ever treat asthma lightly since it can also be fatal if not treated properly. According to my child’s doctor, if asthma is not treated and controlled in childhood, it can turn into a lifetime issue. 

Have you learnt anything in managing asthma that you wish you knew before?

Yes I have learnt a lot. I am more aware of triggers now and I know what I need to do. 

Have you tried complementary medicine or therapies, like homeopathy or yoga?

No, I have not tried anything else.

Has it been difficult emotionally to cope with it all?

Yes, initially it was difficult. Now I know he is much better. In fact, now he is off any medication. And I am also convinced with the doctor’s diagnosis of it being a normal case of childhood asthma which he will eventually grown out of. Since I already see him improving, I am much more at ease now. My advice is to please follow the treatment to the T. Do not take it lightly and do not self-treat. Be aware of the triggers and avoid whatever you can avoid.

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