Asthma is treated among children in a similar way as that of adults. It is because children above five years of age show similar symptoms and can handle the strong medication. If your children show the symptoms of asthma, your doctor may use spirometry, peak flow treatment and exhaled nitric oxide test to diagnose asthma. Once diagnosed, the doctor may assign a bronchodilator in the form of an inhaler to provide immediate relief. The most common medication given through a bronchodilator is Albuterol.
Besides this, the doctor may assign your child a few long-term medications to control asthma and help with living a normal routine life. The doctor can prescribe inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, theophylline, biologics, etc. Some doctors can also prescribe medication in combination to be inhaled for both immediate and long-term relief.
A doctor can conduct diagnosis and prescribe treatment for children above the age of five years only. It is because a child below this age is not able to respond well to the tests, and a doctor relies his analysis on the symptoms told by the parents.
Also, it is crucial to understand that only inhalers cannot control asthma in the long run. If your child is frequently inhaling a bronchodilator, it means that the asthma is not under control. This makes it important for parents to regularly visit a doctor and build an asthma action plan. The plan consists of a mixture of medication and activities to build a healthy lifestyle that can help a child with living a normal life.
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