Asthma is the most common chronic disease in kids. According to the 2019 review, it affects nearly 9% of kids in the United States. Asthma can cause major problems, such as missed school days, emergency room visits, and being in the hospital. It’s unclear exactly why someone gets asthma. Many factors can increase a kid’s risk of developing asthma, including if they:
Breathed in second-hand cigarette smoke as a baby or young child.
Are around indoor aerosols from smoking or vaping.
Have had one or more severe viral infections that affected their breathing.
Have a parent with asthma. Having a mother with asthma especially raises their risk.
Have allergies to things in their environment, such as pollen, pet dander, or mold.
Are obese. This increases the risk of asthma and makes symptoms worse.
Had a low birth weight.
Are around air pollution.
Loved ones can control some of these risk factors, like exposure to indoor aerosols during and after pregnancy.Asthma is also more common in some minority groups, due to historically exclusionary or racist policies. Asthma can sound frightening. But it shouldn’t control your child’s life. With the right treatments, no one should be able to tell the difference between a child with asthma and a child without. Your child’s doctor can help them manage their disease so they can live a healthy and active life.