Parent's Guide - Asthma Asthma is a life long disease that affects a child's ability to breathe. The airways that allow air to enter the lungs swell and become irritated. The swelling takes up room needed to supply the correct amount of air for a normal breath. In large cities, chemicals in air pollution are thought to cause attacks as well.
Some children have attacks after active play or exercise such as gym class.
Some children have mild asthma and may only need medicine when they have an attack. Others will need to take medication daily for the rest of their lives. If there are smokers in the house, it should only be allowed outside, to protect the child with asthma. Your child may need to be admitted to the hospital during times of severe attacks, usually during colder months and when suffering from colds or flu. You need to be alert to signs that your child's asthma is getting worse such as attacks occurring more often or when the medication no longer works as well as it did.