What is asthma attack in children?

During an asthma attack, the airways swell and narrow. This makes it hard for your child to breathe. Severe asthma attacks can be dangerous. But you can help prevent these attacks by keeping your child's asthma under control and treating symptoms before they get bad. Symptoms include being short of breath, having chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. Noting and treating these symptoms can also help you avoid trips to the emergency room.

If you notice that your child has any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

When you have an asthma attack, airflow to the lungs is reduced.

During an asthma attack:

• It may be hard to breathe. You may feel short of breath. And your breathing may be rapid or shallow.
• You may feel like you can't take a deep breath (chest tightness). Children with chest tightness may complain of a stomachache.
• You may make whistling noises when you breathe (wheezing).
• You may cough.

Asthma symptoms may start suddenly or happen up to several hours after you have been exposed to triggers, such as tobacco smoke or animal dander. In some cases, symptoms may not occur until 4 to 12 hours after contact. Although severe attacks may seem to occur suddenly, they usually occur after several days of increasing symptoms.

Quick-relief medicines are given to relax the airways so your child can breathe easier. Corticosteroid medicines are used to reduce inflammation. They may be inhaled or given as pills or a shot. Some asthma attacks may need treatment in the hospital. Your child may get extra oxygen or help with breathing if needed.

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, when they occur, and your past health. You will have a physical exam. A breathing test may be done to find out how well your lungs work.

Help your child follow their asthma action plan. If your child doesn't have an action plan, get one from their doctor. It includes the quick-relief medicines your child will take if they have an attack. Use asthma medicines as directed.

Your child may be at increased risk for very bad asthma attacks if he or she:

• Is an infant with asthma symptoms.
• Has a history of very bad symptoms, such as asthma attacks that get worse quickly and frequent nighttime symptoms.
• Has a hard time taking medicines or often has to use quick-relief medicines (short-acting beta2-agonists) such as albuterol.
• Has frequent changes in peak expiratory flow.
• Has symptoms that last for a long time.
• Doesn't use oral steroid medicines soon enough during an attack.
• Doesn't have good support from family and friends.

Triggers, such as air pollution, pollen, pet dander, and colds and flu, also may make asthma worse and may lead to asthma attacks.

When asthma symptoms suddenly occur, it's called an asthma attack. It's also called an acute asthma episode, flare-up, or exacerbation. Attacks can be brief (about an hour) or last for several days. They may be seasonal (similar to hay fever) or occur during any season.

Asthma attacks happen due to:

• Long-term (chronic) inflammation in the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). Inflammation leads to overreaction (hyperresponsiveness) of the tubes to triggers.
• Tightening of the smooth muscles in the bronchial tubes, causing the airways to get smaller. This reduces airflow in and out of the lungs.
• Extra mucus produced by the mucous glands in the bronchial tubes. This can occur in some children who have asthma and can interfere with airflow.

Anything that makes your child's asthma or breathing worse can cause an asthma attack.

It may be things that your child is allergic to, such as:

• Pollen.
• Dust or dust mites.
• Pet dander.
• Cockroaches.
• Mold.

Other things can cause an asthma attack too, such as:

• Cigarette smoke, air pollution, and chemicals.
• A cold, the flu, or another type of upper respiratory infection.
• Exercise. Many children with asthma have symptoms when they exercise.
• Dry, cold air.
• Medicines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Changes in hormones, such as during the start of a girl's menstrual blood flow at puberty.

You can use your child's asthma action plan to help figure out how bad an attack is. You can look at things like how hard it is for your child to breathe, how much your child is wheezing, or how alert your child is.