Asthma is the most frequent chronic condition afflicting children all over the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every twelve children in the United States has asthma. Asthma has no cure, but there are ways to manage it. If your child has asthma, one of the nine triggers listed above is likely to set it off. These are known as asthma triggers. What you should know about asthma triggers and how to prevent them is outlined below.
Bronchial asthma in kids
1. Infections caused by viruses
A viral respiratory infection is a typical cause of an asthma flare-up. Any virus can set off an asthma attack. The most prevalent is rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. Infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu), and parainfluenza viruses have also been related to asthma flare-ups.
Children who have an asthma flare caused by one of these viruses have a more difficult time managing their symptoms with their standard medication. This is known as treatment failure, and it is frequently associated with hospitalization, emergency room visits, or relapse.
What should I do?
If your child has asthma and cold symptoms, keep an eye out for signs of increased cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Call your child’s pediatrician if he or she has to use his or her rescue inhaler (albuterol) more frequently.
2. Tobacco and other contaminants
Pollutants can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation of the airways. Tobacco smoke is highly harmful to the lungs and can exacerbate asthma flare-ups. Children who are exposed to ambient cigarette smoke have increased wheezing, severe asthma, and symptoms that persist longer. Other contaminants and lung irritants might aggravate asthma symptoms. Ozone (smog), scents, cleaning products, and chemicals are all asthma triggers.
What should I do?
Children with asthma should avoid being exposed to secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke. When utilizing cleaning chemicals, consider using unscented products and ensuring adequate ventilation.
3. Allergens in the home
Indoor allergens cause asthma flare-ups in children with allergies. Dust mites, cockroaches, rodents, and pet dander are examples of allergies. They can cause asthma flare-ups all year and are usually found in the home and schools.
What should I do?
To manage asthma, parents should limit their children’s exposure to allergens. To get rid of dust mites, use allergy-proof bedding coverings and wash your bedding weekly in hot water. A dehumidifier can also help reduce mold and mildew growth in the home.
4. Allergens found outside
Seasonal exposure to outdoor allergens can also cause asthma flare-ups. The most frequent outdoor allergies are pollen and mold. Trees, grasses, and weeds all produce pollen.
Pollen seasons differ depending on where you reside. The majority of tree pollens are shed in the spring, grass pollens in the summer, and weed pollens in the fall. Mold exposure varies according to humidity and rain. Alternaria, a common outdoor mold, can exacerbate asthma symptoms.
What should I do?
The idea, as with indoor allergens, is to reduce your child’s exposure to minimize asthma flare-ups. If you know pollen is a trigger, encouraging your child to wash off pollen after being outside may help. A grass-allergic child, for example, should bathe after playing soccer in the grass. Keeping windows closed during peak pollen seasons might help limit exposure as well.
5. Animals with fur
Household dogs are a common indoor allergen and asthma trigger. Cat and dog allergies are the most frequent, but allergies to hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits can also occur. Allergens can be present in the dander (skin), saliva (drool), and urine of pets.
What should I do?
If your child is allergic to pets, they should be avoided at all costs. If the house formerly housed a pet, it should be carefully cleaned. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can also be beneficial.
6. Changes in weather and cold air
Cold and dry air can irritate the lungs, promote airway inflammation, and precipitate asthma flare-ups. This can happen on a cold day or after being exposed to a cold air conditioner. Sudden temperature changes can also cause airway spasms and aggravate asthma.
What should I do?
If your kid is experiencing weather-related flares, consult with his or her physician or asthma doctor about changing medications.
7. Exercise
Many people with asthma experience coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath when they exercise. Symptoms can appear 5-20 minutes after exercise and can be severe. They may improve with rest or require rescue albuterol to relieve their symptoms.
What should I do?
Some youngsters with asthma must take albuterol 20-30 minutes before physical activity to avoid an asthma flare. Consult your pediatrician if your child commonly experiences asthma symptoms when exercising.
8. Insects
Children with asthma who are allergic to insects are more likely to develop an asthma attack after being stung. Symptoms are typically caused by flying poisonous insects (such as honey bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets) and fire ants. After a sting, asthma symptoms appear quickly.
What should I do?
Children may require extra allergy drugs, such as epinephrine and/or antihistamines, to address the reaction. Children who develop asthma symptoms after being stung by an insect should be evaluated by an allergist.
9. Anxiety/stress
Stress and worry can sometimes worsen airway inflammation and precipitate asthma symptoms. Children with asthma are more likely to have asthma episodes after a stressful life event, such as the COVID-19 epidemic or the death of a family member.
What should I do?
If you are concerned about how stress and anxiety are affecting your child’s health and well-being, as well as strategies to help build resilience, discuss this with your pediatrician.
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