Risk Factors Of Asthma In Children

By Toby Tunwase

Bronchial asthma, also known as Asthma, is a life-threatening condition that usually affects the lungs and internal airways, making it extremely difficult for one to breathe. Its symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, increased mucus production, and tightness in the chest.

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Asthma is the most chronic ailment in children, and though it can affect anyone at any age, it occurs more often than not in children. The triggers of asthma in children vary from person to person, and they include but are not limited to: allergies, exposure to pollutants, physical activity, viral infection, and weather changes.

The risk factors for asthma in children are:

  1. Exposure to harmful pollutants: Living in an area with high pollutants can result in asthma attacks. Cigarette smoke (even secondary smoke), toxic fumes, and smog can also contribute. These pollutant affect children even before birth.
  2. Family History: A child with a history of relatives who had asthma is at risk of also developing asthma. The more relatives that have or had it, the more the likely the child will develop it.
  3. Allergies: Allergies and asthma often occur in unison, especially indoor allergens. Indoor allergens include animal proteins from pets, dust mites, cockroaches, dogs, cats, and more. Other allergies that might occur include skin rash and allergies to food.
  4. Gender: Asthma occurs more often in boys than it does in girls.
  5. Obesity: Obesity can increase the risk of asthma, especially in children. and asthma can, itself, contribute to obesity.
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Asthma is treatable. Unfortunately, there is no cure. Rescue and control inhalers are used to treat and prevent asthma, while severe cases can require longer-acting inhalers.