Children with asthma will need regular checkups.
Asthma is one of the most common health conditions in Ireland, but diagnosing it in children is difficult. Doctors typically wait until a child is older to confirm their diagnosis.
After a child is diagnosed with asthma they will need to have annual check-ups until they are 6 years old.
It is a long-term respiratory condition, but many children can "grow out" of it when they are teenagers.
However, the condition can return in adulthood.
Parents have been advised to look out for the following symptoms in babies and children.
Parents have been advised to visit their GP if their child is displaying symptoms.
The most common symptoms include:
- coughing
- wheezing or noisy breathing
- tightness in the chest
- shortness of breath
- soreness in the tummy
- tiredness
- difficulty speaking
Children may also suffer from unusual symptoms including:
- rapid breathing
- sighing
- fatigue
- exercise-induced asthma)
- difficulty sleeping or nighttime asthma
- anxiety
- chronic cough without wheezing
Symptoms can worsen if a child suffers an asthma attack, but there are ways to treat this.
Most children will be given an inhaler to help ease their symptoms. This is the main form of treatment for asthma sufferers, but GPs can also prescribe steroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists.
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