Newborns

**Newborns** ﻿It is very difficult to determine asthma in children under 5, especially in infants, because other conditions have similar symptoms. Even though it is difficult to determine they can still be diagnosed with the disease. It is also difficult to accurately measure babies' lung function which means how well they breathe.The mechanics of a baby's lungs also complicate the diagnosis of asthma. If you see that your baby is wheezing, coughing and has a cold it is always safe to bring them to the emergency room for a check up because you never know if they have asthma or not. Infants' airways are small. When a baby gets a respiratory tract infection, these already small passages get swollen and filled with mucus much more easily than an older child's or an adult's. This can lead to coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms of asthma (even if it is not asthma, but just a viral infection). Most children develop symptoms by age 6; some do as young as by age 3. Kids are more likely to develop asthma if there's a family history of allergies and asthma. This is especially true if a child's parents have asthma and certain allergies. Viruses are the most common cause of acute asthma episodes in infants six months old or younger. One of the most common causes of asthma symptoms in children five years old and younger is a respiratory virus. Although both adults and children experience respiratory infections, children have more of them and some preschool children are plagued with viral infections. At least half of children with asthma show some sign of it before the age of five. Asthma in infants is very different from asthma in adults and older children because infants and toddlers have much smaller bronchial tubes than older children and adults. In fact, these airways are so small that even small blockages caused by viral infections, tightened airways or mucous can make breathing extremely difficult for the child. Signs of Asthma in infants and toddlers are :
 * Noisy breathing or breathing increased 50 percent above normal
 * Normal respiration rates:
 * newborns 30-60 breaths/minute
 * 1st year 20-40 breaths/minute
 * 2nd year 20-30 breaths/minute


 * Wheezing or panting with normal activities
 * Lethargy, disinterest in normal or favorite activities
 * Difficulty sucking or eating
 * Crying sounds softer, different

And if you see that the symptons below are happening dial 911 :
 * Breathing increased 50 percent or more above normal
 * Difficulty with sucking or eating that leads to a refusal to eat altogether
 * Cyanosis — very pale or blue coloring in face, lips, fingernails
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Rapid movement of nostrils
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Ribs or stomach moving in and out deeply and rapidly
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Expanded chest that does not deflate when child exhales
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Failure to respond to or recognize parents

<span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">There is still no cause in what develops asthma, but there are certain things that you do that can give you the disease or trigger it and cause problems.

<span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">They also have conducted a research from National Institute for Public Health and the Enviorment in Bilthoven, the Netherlands that 79% of women who has had a c-section has gave birth to a newborn who later on suffered from asthma. That newborn also had a parent or both that suffer from allergies. I found that surprising, did not know that they way you gave birth had anything to do with what your child was born to suffer from.

<span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Tips for Parents:
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Learn the warning signs for increasing asthma in infants and toddlers. Know your child's particular asthma symptom "pattern."
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Develop an asthma care management plan with your child's physician. Make sure the plan provides guidelines to follow if asthma symptoms get worse. Understand when your child's symptoms require emergency care.
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Follow your asthma care plan every day! Don't alter from the plan until you consult your healthcare provider. Even if your child's symptoms are gone, stick with the plan until you discuss changes with the doctor.
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Get regular check-ups to help reduce your anxiety.
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Teach your toddler or preschooler to tell you when they are not feeling well.
 * <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Work out an emergency plan of action to follow if your child has a serious asthma episode. What hospital will you use? (Be sure your doctor uses that hospital and it is in your health care plan.) Who will take care of your other children? How does your medical coverage provide for emergency care

<span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #f2a6aa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">﻿Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. It affects as many as 10%-12% of children in the U.S. and, for unknown reasons, is steadily increasing. It can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age 5.
 * Rates **