Asthma is a condition that affects the airways. People with asthma (say: AZ-muh) have breathing problems that come and go. They may cough, wheeze, or be short of breath. This happens because airways get swollen, narrowed, and filled with mucus.
If you have asthma, you're not alone. Lots of kids have it — and lots take medicine to help them breathe better. With the right medicine and asthma action plan, asthma won't slow you down.
No one really knows why kids get asthma. Asthma tends to run in families, though. That means if a kid has asthma, they might have a parent, sibling, or other relative who has asthma or had it as a kid.
You take thousands of breaths every day. Normally, when you breathe in, air enters your nose or mouth and then goes to the windpipe, also called the trachea (say: TRAY-kee-uh). From there, the air travels into the lungs through breathing tubes. The whole process goes in reverse when you exhale.
In asthma, the airways are always a little inflamed (irritated and swollen), even when a person has no symptoms. They’re also react to certain things (“triggers”) that make them get even more inflamed, swollen, and filled with mucus, blocking the flow of air. The muscles around the airways tighten, making them even narrower, which makes it very hard to breathe. When this happens, it is called an asthma flare-up or asthma attack.
You breathe in. You breathe out. But what's happening inside? Watch this movie and find out!
A kid with asthma might have symptoms like:
Some kids might not have asthma symptoms at all between flare-ups. Others might always have mild symptoms that get worse during a flare-up. Some flare-ups are mild, but others can be serious. They can happen suddenly, but usually build up over time.
Things that can cause you to have an asthma flare-up are called "triggers." Different kids have different triggers. Common triggers include:
If your doctor thinks you have asthma, you'll have to get checked out. One test that helps doctors diagnose asthma is spirometry. A spirometer is a device that measures how well your lungs work. It's as easy as blowing out your birthday candles!
It’s important to have your asthma under control. Asthma treatment involves two important things: avoiding triggers and taking medicine.
When you know what your triggers are, you and your parents can take steps to avoid them. Here are some ideas:
If exercise makes your asthma worse, the doctor may prescribe a medicine to take before exercising to prevent your airways from tightening up. It’s important for kids with asthma to stay active. Exercise can help them stay healthier overall (in fact, many pro athletes have asthma).
Kids with asthma usually also take medicine. Most asthma medicines are breathed right into the lungs, but some are pills or liquids. They work in two ways:
Some kids will get both types of medicines from one inhaler (say: in-HAY-lur) device. They might need to use this “combination” inhaler every day, with added doses from it when they have symptoms. A kid with mild asthma might use a combination inhaler only for quick relief when they have symptoms, or before they exercise. Your health care team will be able to help you and your parents figure out which inhaler is best, and how and when you should use it.
Using an inhaler can be tricky, so a spacer helps. It attaches to the inhaler and holds the mist of medicine in one place (between the inhaler and your mouth). A spacer lets you breathe in when you're ready, so it's easier to inhale all the medicine into your lungs.
There's no cure for asthma, but a lot of kids find their asthma goes away or gets less serious as they get older. Some doctors think this happens because the airways grow wider as a kid grows up and gets bigger. With more room in the airways, the air has an easier time getting in and out.
Some people do have asthma as adults, but it doesn't have to slow them down. With medicine and the right care plan, your asthma symptoms can be managed so that you can do just about anything you want to do.
Reviewed by: Nemours Medical Experts
Date Reviewed: Sep 1, 2023
By using this site, you consent to our use of cookies. To learn more, read our privacy policy.