Asthma can be defined as a disease of airways characterized by widespread narrowing of the air passages resulting in cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.
Children are known to be worse affected from asthma. It is estimated that about 9 millions of children in America are affected from Asthma. Although the disease can begin in infancy, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose asthma in infants and toddlers. Asthma seems to run in families. Children whose brother, sister or parents especially mother have asthma, are more likely to develop this disease.
Childhood Asthma can be very troublesome leading to interference in day today activities like playing, sports, studies and sleep.

SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA
The following symptoms can be observed in children:
Wheezing:It is a whistling sound which can be heard during exhalation. Asthma can occur with or without wheezing with other symptoms like cough, dyspnoea and chest tightness.
Cough:It is chronic and usually dry and triggers in morning hours and by exercise.
Tightness of chest:Child can experience pain and tightness during breathing.
Shortness of breath is experienced by children.
Along with these symptoms history of pneumonia can be found in infants and young children.

ASTHMA TRIGGERS IN CHILDREN
Children can be sensitive to variety of irritants or triggers. They vary from children to children.
Indoor and outdoor allergens including cleaning products, gas fumes, molds, smoke, dust mites, foods containing preservatives, animal dander, paint fumes and pollen are known to flare up asthma particularly children above 3 years of age.
In some children, changes in the season may worse the symptoms. Humidity and temperature changes and cold air in winter season increases the symptoms.
Exercise such as running, swimming, skating acts as a trigger by narrowing the airways. The symptoms appear 5 to10 min after cool down period, stay for 15-20 minutes and then disappear.
Emotional factors also play major role in worsening the symptoms.

Parents can help children to cope up with this serious illness by finding the triggers specific to your child and making every possible effort to prevent those triggers.