What exactly is asthma in children? The free clinic was full of dry goods

According to the 2020 China Asthma Guidelines, there are about 45.7 million people with asthma in mainland China who are 20 years old and older.

This year, 3 May is World Asthma Day, and this year's theme is "Closing gaps and achieving homogeneous management of asthma".

On May 7th, as one of the series of public welfare activities of this year's "World Asthma Day", the Asthma Tracheitis Department of Fuzhou Children's Hospital in Fujian Province carried out free clinics and lectures in the department room, and through the popularization of asthma-related knowledge, answered questions with parents of children with asthma on the spot.

Some inadvertent behaviors can also cause or aggravate the occurrence of asthma.

At 8:00 a.m., the corridor of the Department of Asthma and Tracheitis of Fuzhou Children's Hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University was lined with children and their families who came to participate in the free clinic.

Ms. Liu of Fuzhou waited in line with her 7-year-old son, Xiao Gang (not her real name). Two years ago in the spring, Xiao Gang suddenly coughed, Ms. Liu mistakenly thought that the spring weather was changeable, found the cold medicine and cough syrup that were often available at home, and gave him a dose. But after more than ten days, Xiao Gang's cough became more and more serious, especially at night, coughing until he couldn't sleep, even if he was asleep, the sound of breathing was particularly heavy, and the breathing circle around his mouth was purple.

Frightened, Ms. Liu took her son Xiao gang to Find Tang Suping, health ambassador of Fujian Health Newspaper and director of asthma and tracheitis at Fuzhou Children's Hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University.

After consultation and physical examination, Director Tang diagnosed that Xiao Gang had asthma, and Ms. Liu was very confused. After careful questioning and examination by Director Tang, it was concluded that Xiao Gang had a family history of asthma and also suffered from allergic rhinitis, and the "culprit" that made him asthma attack was the perfume smell of Ms. Liu.s body.

"Unexpectedly, the smell of this perfume has become a factor that induces asthma in children." Ms. Liu said that thanks to Director Tang's diagnosis and treatment, the child's asthma symptoms were alleviated, and the child was specially brought today for review.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to perfume, some inadvertent behaviors, such as lighting mosquito coils, burning incense, passive smoking, and using disinfectant water, can cause or aggravate the occurrence of asthma.

It is understood that a total of 150 children with asthma were provided with free free clinics at the scene.

During the free clinic, Director Tang also carried out health education lectures around the theme of "eliminating gaps and realizing the homogeneous management of asthma", which solved the problems of "fallacies" and "misunderstandings" prevalent in asthma diseases among many parents of children.

Chief Physician Of Asthma Tracheitis, Deputy Chief Physician Dong Li and medical staff of the department all participated in the day's activities.

These "misunderstandings" of asthma are to keep in mind

Does childhood asthma heal itself with age?

Some children with asthma will have different degrees of relief of asthma symptoms as they grow and develop, and even some children can indeed heal themselves without treatment; but there are still many children who will relapse after adulthood.

If asthma is well controlled in childhood, the cure rate in adulthood is higher. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, and if asthma in children is not treated in time, once the irreversible damage to the airway wall structure, that is, airway remodeling, will affect lung function for life.

If there are no symptoms after taking the drug, it means that the asthma is cured?

Chronic airway inflammation is the real cause of asthma. After the use of relieving drugs, although the symptoms disappear, the inflammation of the airways can persist.

Children should insist on using drugs for the treatment of airway inflammation, such as inhaled glucocorticoids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, immune (desensitization) therapy, etc. to prevent asthma attacks and avoid airway remodeling.

Will there be side effects from long-term medication?

Systematic and standardized treatment with low-dose inhaled hormones does not cause systemic side effects and should not delay treatment.

The amount of hormones used by children in the stable period is very small, calculated in micrograms, a foreign study observed low-dose inhaled hormones to treat children with asthma for 10 years, and finally the height of the child is not affected, very safe.

What should children with asthma do during the COVID-19 pandemic?

During the epidemic prevention and control period, most children stay indoors, and the impact of the indoor environment on children's asthma has increased significantly, and the indoor environment should be intervened.

Director Tang reminds: use anti-mite bedspreads, pillowcases and other household items, non-mite-proof bedding (bedding, pillows, sheets, etc.) wash once every 2 weeks; use mite removal equipment; teach children not to jump in bed to avoid contact with plush toys; avoid exposure to pets such as cats and dogs, ensure indoor ventilation and adequate sunlight; use air purifiers, reduce the use of air conditioners and humidifiers, etc.; reduce the use of disinfectants, short-term contact can cause lung damage, induce acute attacks and exacerbations of asthma.

How to deal with an acute asthma attack?

When the child presents with frequent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing during activity, any of these symptoms, or when the actual measurement of peak flow rate values < 80% of the estimated value, this suggests that an asthma exacerbation may be acute.

Immediately, remission medications, which can rapidly relax the bronchi, are inhaled with formulations such as salbutamol aerosol, salbutamol, terbutaline, levalatamineol nebulization solution (ipratropium bromide nebulization solution may be added), budesonide/formoterol dry powder.

If inhaled formulations are not available, oral preparations such as salbutamol, propacaterol, aminophylline, etc. can be used. Severe episodes require concomitant use of systemic corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, etc.).

If the condition requires, it can be inhaled every 20 minutes within the first hour, and then inhaled again as needed according to the situation, but if the above symptoms are still not significantly relieved, or continuous inhalation is required, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Tang Suping, chief physician (professional and technical second-level) of children's hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University, enjoys special government allowances from the State Council. He is currently the director of Fuzhou Institute of Asthma Tracheitis.

Time and place of consultation: Monday to Saturday 8:00-12:00 a.m., 2nd floor, Chengshun Building, Fuzhou Children's Hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University.

Fujian Health Daily all-media reporter: Zhang Shuai

Source: Fujian Health News