How can babies get asthma

Probably not. Many babies and young children wheeze due to colds or viruses and don't develop asthma when they're older. Young kids are more at risk for wheezing because their airways are very small. When they get a cold or other respiratory tract infection, these already small passages swell and fill with mucus much more easily than an older child's or an adult's.

This can cause wheezing, coughing , and other symptoms that people with asthma get. Another thing to consider is how often your baby wheezes. One instance of wheezing isn't enough to diagnose asthma. It must happen more than once. If breathing becomes easier after administering the medication, that will help confirm a diagnosis of asthma.

A chest X-ray or blood test may also be ordered. This may be a pediatric allergist or pulmonologist. Most medications to treat asthma in babies are given in inhaled forms. The medications that are appropriate for older children are usually okay for babies, just sometimes at lower doses. Asthma medications are often poured into a nebulizer, which is a machine that turns liquid medications into mist form.

The misty medication travels through a tube to a facemask worn by the child. Your baby may not like wearing the mask, even though it just covers the nose and mouth. With some reassurance or a distraction like a favorite toy, you should be able to get enough medication to your child to see some symptom relief. Medications may also be given via an inhaler using an extra device called an aerochamber, along with an appropriately sized mask. Several different types of medications are available.

They help relax the airways to make breathing easier. Long-term medications include corticosteroids Pulmicort and leukotriene modifiers Singulair.

These drugs help reduce inflammation to ease symptoms. A mix of medications is often used. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the severity and frequency of the asthma attacks. You can also help your baby by reducing exposure to: dust mold pollen cigarette smoke.

This can lead to long-term breathing difficulties. In the short term, an asthma attack means your baby will be fussy, uncomfortable, and tired. Your baby may need to visit the emergency room and a hospital stay may be required, too. If you suspect your baby has asthma, seek a diagnosis. Parenthood Baby. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. Toddlers and preschoolers are often active, even with chest tightness or trouble breathing. Lung function tests — often used to make a complete asthma diagnosis — are hard to do with young children.

Instead, the doctor may see how the child responds to medications to improve breathing. The doctor may order blood tests, allergy testing and X-rays to get more information. Using this information, the doctor can make the best diagnosis. Parents may need to take their child to a pediatric allergist or pulmonologist lung specialist for special testing or treatment.

Infants or toddlers can use most medicines used for older children and adults. The dosage may be lower and the way the child takes it is different. Inhaled medicines work fast to make symptoms better and produce few side effects. Medicines used to treat asthma symptoms in infants and toddlers are usually given in inhaled forms. Infants are usually treated with medication given by a nebulizer or with an inhaler using a spacer with a mask. Nebulizer treatments take about 10 minutes.

A spacer is a small tube, or aerochamber, which holds the medication released by the inhaler fitted into it.