Children with asthma should follow their doctor's instructions and never reduce medication arbitrarily.
asthmaIt is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract in children, affecting an average of 1 in 10 children. With the recent drop in temperature, parents should pay special attention to their children's condition. Regarding treatment, doctors may prescribe inhaled steroid medications, but some parents worry that these medications will affect their children's height and reduce the dosage on their own. Pediatrician Chen Shanheng points out that these medications have very few side effects, and failure to use them as prescribed may worsen the condition. He urges parents not to worry excessively.
Asthma is a respiratory sensitivity disorder, and patients are prone to attacks due to external stimuli. Common triggers include respiratory infections, dust, and air pollution. Typical symptoms include cough, wheezing, and...Difficulty breathingAnd so on. It is encouraging that young patients with approximately 70% to 80% can expect to recover in adulthood.
As autumn approaches and the weather gradually cools, young children are more susceptible to illness. Dr. Chen advises parents to closely monitor their children's condition and administer medications as prescribed, including bronchodilators for immediate symptom relief and preventative medications. She specifically cautions against the misconception that steroids affect a child's development, as some parents adjust the dosage themselves: "They worry that the medication will stunt their growth, so they dare not give the full dose." Dr. Chen explains that studies show inhaled steroids may have a slight impact on height for 1 to 2 years, but growth is usually caught up in the following years, so parents do not need to worry excessively. She emphasizes that failure to follow medical advice may worsen the condition, potentially requiring oral steroids, which can be more harmful to the body.
There are many misconceptions about the relationship between exercise and asthma. Some people believe that exercise will worsen asthma symptoms, but Dr. Chen holds the opposite view. She believes that moderate exercise can help improve the condition, and patients do not need to restrict their diet. They only need to avoid eating spicy or cold foods during an asthma attack and maintain a balanced diet.
Regarding asthma prevention, Dr. Chen offered several suggestions: mothers should breastfeed as much as possible; pregnant women should avoid smoking; and family members should also quit smoking, because even if they smoke outside and then return home, the smell of smoke on their clothes can still affect the child. In addition, she pointed out that respiratory infections are a common cause of asthma and advised parents to have their children vaccinated against the flu regularly. For preschool activities, she suggested waiting until children are over 2 years old and have stronger immune systems before enrolling them in playgroups, as infants under 6 months old have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to illness if they participate in group activities too early.
