Taking care of children with asthma in the cold season

The article was professionally approved by Master, Doctor Dang Huy Toan - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital

The coming winter is a worry for many parents with young children because this is the season with the highest risk of young children suffering from respiratory diseases. Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in young children. The disease needs to be detected and controlled in time to avoid dangerous complications for the child. So why does cold weather affect asthma so much, and how to take care of children with asthma in the winter? The article will help parents understand and best take care of their children.

Asthma is not a contagious or contagious disease. Children are the most susceptible to asthma. According to statistical studies, the rate of children with asthma is also twice as high as that of adults.
However, because children are still young, their health problems have not been clearly demonstrated, especially for children under 2 years old, so it is often difficult for parents to detect or detect their child's condition.
Parents need to pay attention to children's attitudes and behaviors to detect abnormalities in children

Unusually changing weather, changing seasons Cold weather increases the risk of children having asthma and increases the risk of asthma recurrence. The reason is that our country has a hot and humid climate. In winter, there is often cold and wet air that can penetrate through the airways, thereby causing symptoms of acute asthma such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath. chest in asthmatic children whose airways are always chronically inflamed.
Cold air causes mold spores to appear more in the air, which is a factor that can cause asthma.
In addition, cold weather also increases the risk of children getting flu, viral colds, and colds.
Exposure to external agents Exposure to dog and cat hair, air pollution, pollen, kitchen smoke, mold,...
Some high-risk foods cause asthma such as: shrimp, crabs and snails , frogs...
Geography Many children have asthma because of their condition. Children with allergic rhinitis, bronchospasm, and visceral secretions are more likely to have asthma.
Heredity If there is a family member with allergic diseases such as hives, seasonal allergies, and seasonal allergic rhinitis, the rate of children at risk of asthma is higher.

To know if a child has asthma, parents can notice the obvious actions of the child when the weather changes, the child exerts himself:
When the child coughs with a feeling of heaviness in the chest Wheezing Fast breathing, Child However, many children have no obvious symptoms, no seizures, and are atypical, so parents can have their children perform spirometry. This is a test that can help diagnose asthma when asthma is suspected, used when the child does not have an attack or when the symptoms are atypical. However, this is a test that requires the patient's cooperation, so it is often difficult to perform in children under 6 years of age.

Parents need to take proper care of their children to prevent asthma attacks in children and reduce symptoms by:
Avoid exposing children to causes that can trigger asthma Do not keep pets in the house such as dogs and cats , ... in the house, regularly kill cockroaches. Do not smoke near children, do not leave chemical products (mosquitoes, cockroaches,...) in the house.
Minimize the use of sprays such as room sprays, mosquito sprays, and insects. Limit exposure of children to the smell of incense smoke.
Sanitize children's sleeping places Beds and blankets are clean, don't put fur rugs because they accumulate a lot of bacteria, fluff can fly into the child's nose.
Regularly wash pillows, sheets and blankets in hot water, dry in the sun to kill bacteria.
Do not let children play with stuffed animals because this is also a place for bacteria to accumulate and breed
Children's rooms should be airy, with windows for ventilation. Children should be allowed to play outdoors every day, in a well-ventilated place.
Attention to eat Seafood, crabs, snails, ... are foods with a high risk of allergies, only let children try a small amount for the first time to see if the child's reaction is allergic.

Strengthen children's immune system and resistance with appropriate nutrition such as supplementing with vitamin C and vitamin E from good foods such as green vegetables, carrots, oranges, grapefruits... to strengthen respiratory function
Let children wear masks and towels before going out in the cold to avoid direct inhalation of cold air into the lungs, leading to an asthma attack.
Parents should pay attention when children have signs of asthma or suspect that they need to take them to a respiratory specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. It is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the doctor, do not arbitrarily buy medicine for the child to take, arbitrarily stop the medicine when the child has an asthma attack.
International General Hospital is not only equipped with modern medical equipment and facilities according to international standards, but also has a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses to help diagnose and treat quickly and effectively. effective, bringing comfort to the patient. Parents can trust to bring their children to facilities near their home for examination and treatment.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.