Many children under age 5 can't use a peak flow meter well enough to make the numbers useful, so their asthma must be managed by an adult who needs to watch carefully for the asthma signs. The age 5 "cutoff" is somewhat arbitrary, however, and can be adjusted based on the abilities of the individual child. It's a good idea to start using peak flow meters before age 5 to get the child used to them, but not to actually rely on them too much for monitoring the child's condition.
Expectations (prognosis):
With proper treatment and a team approach to managing asthma (including, most importantly, the family), most affected children can live a normal life. Asthma, however, can be a life-threatening disease. It is important for families to work together with health care professionals to develop a plan for the child with asthma in order to ensure proper treatment and to minimize the impact of this chronic condition.
Complications:
The complications of asthma can be severe. Some include:
chronic cough
lack of sleep from nighttime symptoms
decreased tolerance for exercise and other activity
missed school
missed work for parents
trouble breathing
need for emergency room visits
need for hospitalization
assisted ventilation
chronic lung disease (permanent changes in the function of the lungs)
Call your health care provider if you think that your child has any of the symptoms of asthma listed above. It is very important for asthma to be diagnosed and treated early in order to reduce the risk of complications. If your child is having trouble breathing or your think that he/she may be having an asthma attack, seek medical attention immediately.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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