If your child has asthma, you know how frightening it can be when your child has difficulty breathing. You can do a lot to manage your child’s asthma, and your pediatrician can help. Dr. Chirag Patel and Dr. Bruce DeCotiis at Ocean Allergy provide a wide range of allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology services. They have two convenient office locations in Brick, and Wall, NJ.
What You Need to Know About Managing Asthma in Children
Asthma is a common condition, especially in children. The CDC estimates that 1 in 10 children has asthma. An asthma attack may be brought on by exposure to a substance your child is allergic to, known as an allergen.
Managing allergies can also help manage asthma. Reducing your child’s exposure to allergens can help reduce the risk of an asthma attack. You can reduce allergens in your home if you:
- Vacuum frequently, or consider switching to hard flooring
- Wash pillowcases and sheets regularly
- Use hypoallergenic sheets and pillowcases
- Keep pets off furniture and out of your child’s bedroom
- Install a HEPA filter in your child’s bedroom
- Keep your child away from smoke, perfumes, and other asthma triggers
Your pediatrician may recommend allergy testing to determine what your child is allergic to, so your child can avoid the allergen. To manage allergies, your pediatrician may recommend:
- Allergy shots
- Sublingual immunotherapy
Your pediatrician may recommend testing of lung function to assess the severity of your child’s asthma. Common asthma medications your pediatrician may recommend include:
- Long-term control medications, including inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, combination inhalers, and theophylline
- Quick-relief rescue medications, including oral or IV corticosteroids, short-acting beta-agonists, and ipratropium
Want To Know More About Managing Asthma in Children?
To find out more about managing your child’s asthma, call Dr. Chirag Patel and Dr. Bruce DeCotiis at Ocean Allergy. You can reach them in Brick, NJ, by calling (732) 458-2000, or in Wall, NJ, by calling (732) 681-8700, so call today.