Asthma
Treatments
There are two main kinds of asthma treatment that your doctor may
prescribe for your child. They are called relievers and preventers.
Relievers
Everyone with asthma should have a
reliever inhaler. Relievers are treatments taken to relieve asthma
symptoms. They quickly relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways
(within 5-10 minutes), making it easier to breathe again.
If your child needs to use their reliever inhaler more than once in any
day, or more than 3-4 times a week, they will also need a preventer
treatment to keep their asthma symptoms under control. This is because
relievers do not reduce the inflammation and swelling in the airways.
What about side effects?
Reliever treatments are very safe and effective and have few side
effects. Sometimes, high doses of reliever treatment can slightly increase
the heart beat or give mild muscle shakes. These effects are harmless and
generally wear off after a short period of time. It is not possible to
overdose on reliever treatment.
Preventers
Preventers help to control swelling and inflammation in the airways.
They also stop the airways from being so sensitive to asthma triggers. The
protective effect of preventer treatments builds up over a period of time,
so it is important that you take them every day, even if you are
feeling well. Preventer inhalers are usually brown, red or orange.
If your child takes a preventer treatment regularly (as prescribed by
their doctor) they will improve their long-term chances of controlling
their asthma and reduce the likelihood of permanently damaging their
airways.
Preventer treatments will not relieve sudden attacks of wheezing or
breathlessness.
What about side effects?
Preventer treatments usually contain corticosteroids in low doses – a
copy of the steroids produced naturally in our bodies. These steroids are
very safe, not addictive and are completely different to the anabolic
steroids used by body builders and athletes.
Using a preventer inhaler brings a small risk of a mouth infection
called thrush and hoarseness of the voice. The risk of this can be reduced
by using a spacer. For most children, taking inhaled corticosteroids has
no effect on long-term growth and development. Regular review appointments
with your child's doctor will mean they can check your child is using the
least treatment needed to control their symptoms.
How should my child take their treatment?
Inhalers
Your doctor will probably prescribe your child's treatment in the form
of an inhaler device. Inhalers are useful because they help to get
treatment straight to your child's airways where it is needed. Inhalers
can be in a spray form (aerosol) or dry powder form. If your child uses an
aerosol inhaler, using a spacer device with their inhaler is the most
effective way to take the treatment. Younger children will need to use a
mask with the spacer device.
Good inhaler technique is essential for getting the most out of your
treatment, so make sure you ask for a check on your child's inhaler
technique at your review appointment!
My doctor has given my child tablets. What are they for?
There are two main kinds of tablets used to treat asthma.
Steroid tablets
Sometimes, a short course of a tablet form of preventer treatment
(steroids) may be given to your child when asthma is first diagnosed or
when they have had a bad asthma attack to gain control of their symptoms
quickly.
Preventer tablets
If your child's asthma symptoms are not controlled by regular inhaled
preventer and 'as needed' reliever, they may be prescribed a daily tablet
treatment (preventer tablets). These are not steroids and are usually
taken alongside inhaled preventers.
Other treatments
Another treatment – called a long-acting reliever – may sometimes be
prescribed for your child. This will help reduce asthma symptoms by
keeping the airways of the lungs open and relaxed. Long-acting relievers
are usually taken twice a day, morning and evening, and should be taken
along with a preventer.
Does my child need a nebuliser?
Many people still believe that nebulisers (a machine which creates a
mist of treatment, breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece) are the only
solution to worsening of asthma symptoms. However, studies have shown that
taking a reliever inhaler through a spacer is as effective. Inhalers and
spacers are also more convenient, portable, cost effective and can lead to
less side effects. Nebulisers are mainly only used for the emergency
treatment of asthma in hospital. They are not recommended for the majority
of people with asthma at home.
Tips for young children
Giving asthma treatment to a young child can sometimes be difficult
but it needn't be a traumatic experience for either of you. It may help if
you reassure your child by pretending to take the treatment yourself or
giving it to a favourite toy. Distraction with music or videos can also be
useful. Praise and encourage the smallest achievement. Try to remain
positive!
Source of Information
Asthma treatment
Welcome to Astma Behandeling! Our extensive asthma web site has been
specifically designed to provide wide-ranged medical advice and product
information for asthma patients, physicians and everyone else interested
in the chronic disease of the airways. Asthma is a severe disease that can
be life-threatening if you don't adapt a proper bronchial asthma treatment
that is right for you! Astma Behandeling, the asthma web site of 3M Pharma
Nederland B.V., equips you with wide-ranged asthma knowledge to cope with
the disease!
Asthma treatment guidelines that will save your life
Asthma is a chronic disease that directly affects the airways and
causes breathlessness, coughing, chest pains and wheezing. Various factors
trigger the asthma disease, from exposure to allergens (e. g. house dust
mite droppings, plant pollen etc.) and industrial or chemical irritants to
extreme exercise and emotional stress. Over 155 million people world-wide
suffer from the disease. Asthma affects virtually every age group, from
infants to the elderly. Young patients generally have episodic, extrinsic
asthma whilst older patients have chronic, intrinsic asthma.
Childhood
asthma is common in 5% to 10% of children, and affects them often
before they are 5 years old. Team up with Astma Behandeling to find the
right asthma treatment for your child!
Track down the right asthma treatment option
Although the disease can be very severe, finding the right treatment of
asthma enables you to live your life to the full! On our web site, we
introduce you to a wide range of
asthma
medications and inhalers that will help you gain control over the
disease.
Track down medication treatment for asthma with Asthma Behandling!
Immunotherapy and Asthma Allergy Symptoms
Immunotherapy is often used to reduce allergy symptoms in asthma sufferers.
Only an allergist- immunologist or other specialist physician should prescribe
the treatment. Also, immunotherapy should be administered only in facilities
specifically equipped to deal with anaphylaxis.
Immunotherapy involves a series of injections, each containing minute quantities
of substances such as dust mites allergen, pollen, mold spores, animal dander or
any other substance to which the patient has tested positive in an allergy skin
test. Food allergens are not included in immunotherapy as the effectiveness of
their inclusion has not been proven.
Allergy shots are administered once or twice a week, during the build up
phase. Once the condition is stabilized (after approximately three to four
months), the frequency is reduced to a maintenance level of an injection
every two to three weeks. Immunotherapy may continue for several years.
Although still the subject of ongoing research, immunotherapy has been shown to
"switch off" the abnormal allergic reactions triggered by allergens.
Most asthmatics respond well to immunotherapy. However, a small percentage fail
to respond. In these cases, treatment is discontinued. Occurrences of fatal
anaphylaxis as a result of immunotherapy treatment are rare.
Source of
Information
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