My child constantly has problems with asthma, what can I do?
March 14, 2024 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Benjamin Meier
Dear pediatrician,
My name is Andrea Hohenberg and I am very worried about my child. My son, Luca, 7 years old, has been suffering from asthma since childhood. Lately, he has been experiencing more problems with it and it seems like his symptoms are worsening. He has more frequent coughing fits, shortness of breath, and we have to call the emergency services more often. I feel helpless and don't know what else I can do to help my son.
Luca regularly takes his asthma medications, but we still feel like they are not working effectively anymore. We have already tried various inhalation techniques and attempted to identify his triggers, but it just doesn't seem to be getting better. We also try to make his environment asthma-friendly, but that doesn't seem to help either.
I am very concerned about my child's health and wonder if there are other treatment options we should consider. Are there specific therapies or medications that could help Luca? Should we undergo further tests to determine the cause of his increased symptoms? What can we do to support Luca and improve his quality of life?
I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist us with your expertise and experience. Please provide me with advice and recommendations so that I can offer my child the best possible treatment.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Andrea Hohenberg
Dear Mrs. Hohenberg,
I understand your concerns and fears about the health of your son Luca and would like to help you find the best possible treatment for him. Asthma is a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can be well controlled. It is important that you as parents are well informed and work closely with your pediatrician to manage your son's symptoms.
Since Luca is still experiencing increased symptoms despite regular intake of his asthma medication, it is indeed important to consider further treatment options. There are various therapies and medications that can be used for severe or uncontrolled asthma. For example, additional long-acting bronchodilators or corticosteroids may be considered to reduce airway inflammation.
It is also important to identify and avoid possible triggers for Luca's asthma attacks, such as allergens like dust mites, animal dander, or pollen. Specific immunotherapy (desensitization) could be considered to reduce allergy symptoms and thus improve asthma symptoms as well.
If symptoms persist and treatment effectiveness is inadequate, further investigations may be helpful in identifying the exact cause of Luca's increased symptoms. This may include lung function tests, allergy tests, or a visit to a pulmonologist.
It is also important that you as parents are well informed about proper inhalation techniques, the use of emergency medications, and recognizing warning signs of an impending asthma attack. Training for parents and children can help make asthma management easier in daily life.
I strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss Luca's current symptoms and create an individualized treatment plan together. Your pediatrician can help you find the best possible therapy for Luca and support him as best as possible.
I hope that my recommendations are helpful to you and wish you and your son Luca all the best on the road to better asthma control.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Meier, Pediatrician
