According to the American Lung Association, lung disease kills one in six Americans and is the leading cause of death in children under one year of age. Children are susceptible to lung disease from infection, exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution and because their respiratory systems are still maturing. Most of these conditions are treatable or at least manageable and all can be made less severe if the child is breathing clean air.
Asthma
Asthma is the most common lung disease in children. When a child has asthma, the airways in the lungs are always inflamed. Sometimes they are worse than others, referred to as an "asthma attack." Symptoms are wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. A child who has asthma has reactive airways. They react to irritating stimuli like cigarette smoke, pollution or other poor air quality. Emotional stress, exercise and sudden temperature changes may also trigger an asthma attack. Medications can lessen the severity of asthma symptoms. Bronchodilators help to open up the airways by relaxing the smooth muscle linings. Anti-inflammatory aerosol medications and steroids can maintain the airways between attacks.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a disease that also affects other organs, but in 90 percent of cases affects the lungs. Thick mucus clogs the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Respiratory symptoms include wheezing, recurrent cases of pneumonia and continuous cough. Children with CF typically have difficulty gaining weight. Both parents must carry the CF gene in order to have a one in four chance of having a child with the disease. Diagnosis is made by sweat test. It measures the concentration of salt in a sample of sweat taken from the skin. Most newborns in the United States are screened for CF in the first 24 hours of life. Treatment is focused on preventing respiratory infections. Aerosol medications are used to keep mucus thin and bronchodilators are added to keep airways open.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a condition in which the lungs become inflamed, usually due to infection. A child with pneumonia may have a fever and cough and seem generally unwell. Younger children may fuss and refuse to eat. There may be difficulty breathing and even a bluish or pale color around the lips. Cough is usually "tight" and congested sounding and may or may not bring up sputum. It is hard to determine if a child's cough is productive because they often swallow anything they bring up. This is OK. It is just another way to get rid of it. Diagnosis is made by chest X-ray, although sometimes it does not show up as a classic white area of consolidation on the film. In many cases, it takes the evaluation of symptoms, blood work and history in order to confirm a case. Sometimes, it might not be known for sure if the child has pneumonia but if suspected, it will be treated with antibiotics, rest and oxygen therapy.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis, also called a chest cold, begins as an upper-airway infection that gets into the lungs. The airways become inflamed and cough is present. In most cases, the child with a chest cold gets better on his own, though may cough occasionally for several weeks. In a severe case of bronchitis, inhaled medication may be used to decrease inflammation and make it easier to breathe.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) in children is serious in that it is more likely to spread into the bloodstream. In adults, TB can remain in the body for years and not pose an issue until some other change in health occurs. In children, whose immune system is still developing, it can be a greater cause for concern. Children do not pass TB to each other. In most cases of childhood TB, the child lives with or has close contact with an adult with tuberculosis. Medications used in the treatment of TB include isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide and are usually effective.
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