Introduction and Definition of Asthma in children

Asthma generally refers to bronchial asthma and is a respiratory disease in which, there is an obstruction in a steadily going respiration of a human being. There are lot many cases of asthma in children and many turn to fatal cases and therefore, the disease requires prime attention especially when a child is the sufferer.

Nowadays, incidences of bronchial asthma are rising very rapidly. Many experts believe that change in the climate and pollution is main culprits. The air is always polluted and produce allergy in one’s body especially child’s.  One of the survey states that one out of five children even in developed country is suffering from asthmatic symptoms one or the other way.

Ayurveda includes this situation under something called ‘tamaka shwasa’. As described earlier, it is a fatal disease and one must carry a device called ‘respirator’ or ‘inhaler’, which is life-saving instrument that holds medicine that an widen the respiratory track and can lessen the episode and severity of asthmatic attack.

Description of Asthma in children

Asthma especially in children is an obstructive respiratory condition that features recurrent attack of wheezing, prolonged expiration and shortness of breath. Along with these all, an irritating cough is common. Lung is a main organ of the respiratory system and it plays the major role in exchanging the gases between environment and the body. When an air is inhaled, it enters through nose and is filtered, warmed and humidified. When it reaches to lungs after passing through airway (trachea or windpipe); bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli exchange this air to the bodily air in a very micro-way. Purified air is then taken to each cell of the body and the entire body survives.

When there is an obstruction in the airway, sufficient air is not supplied to the lungs and so to the body and therefore, lung makes more efforts to meet the body’s requirement of an air and hence, there will be labored breathing. This is nothing but the dyspnea, a major symptom of asthma. Constriction of the airway is termed as broncho-spasm. In this condition, the membranes that line inner walls of the airways become swollen and the glands within these walls produce more mucus that again restricts the airflow.

If we look at modern medicine system, asthma can be caused by those allergens that produce allergy to the bronchial tree or respiratory track. The body cells react to this allergy and produce more mucus and hence, the airway is more blocked. The windpipe and bronchial tree are narrowed and there will be extreme shortness of breath. The child becomes restless and breathes very deeply. There will be in-drawing of bodily muscles especially thorax and shoulder region. Coughing is not uncommon in this situation.

If a child is grown, there is something called air=hunger in which, a child moves forwards and may run towards the window to breath more and more. This could be the clear indication of having asthma or indicating asthmatic attack. In some severe cases, asthma produces great sound/noise while breathing that can be heard clearly even from a distance.

Two important factors that play major role in asthma are; inflammation of the airway passages and other one is hyperactive bronchi. These are the two basic theories that trigger the asthma. Here are certain factors that can bring asthma to a child…

• Allergens such as pollens, molds, feathers or animal dander, dust, foods etc.
• Irritants in air such as cigarette smoke, gases, air pollution, dirt etc.
• Certain odors like perfumes, deodorants, fabric softeners, laundry detergents, cooking fumes, varnishes and paints.
• A food preservatives, salad bars and certain fruit juices
• Respiratory infections including cold, sore throat, bronchitis etc.
• Poor hygienic conditions and dense residential area
• Nighttime
• Cold atmosphere and dusty environment

Asthma can be diagnosed by X-Ray chest, observation and auscultation through stethoscope in the chest. There will be congestion with wheezing sound heard in the chest while examining through stethoscope. In children, six years and older, pulmonary function tests can be useful. Blood check-up or hemogram is also very useful in which, there could be increased white blood cells and ESR.

The treatment for asthma in children includes inhaler, which is best and life-saving device. This instrument holds some medicine that can dilate the windpipe and hence can make the breath easy. A child should be trained to inhale as and when required.

Other drugs include that can dilate the bronchial tree (called as bronchodilators). Drugs those are mucolytic, expectorant and cough suppressor can also be taken as an aid to main asthmatic treatment.

Ayurveda believes this to be strictly Kapha Dosha involved disease. Some of the greatest medicines Ayurveda has include; Kantakari, Tulasi, Haridra, Pushkarmool and Agatsyarasayana. A child is to be examined by an Ayurvedic doctor before giving/taking medications as the dosage is to be adjusted for pediatric patients.