Question:
I have an 8 year old son with asthma. The common belief in our
community here is that asthma in children will cure itself
automatically as the children grow up and their general health improve.
Is there any truth in this or is it merely a myth?
I ask this because my son has had asthma since he was two year old. But
the asthma attack comes more frequently nowadays, more often than
before, especially during the night when he is asleep. True, his
general health is not improving. But I don't know if it could have been
caused by the asthma itself.
Please tell me what I should do. We live in mountainous area, about 950
meters above sea level. It's always damp and rainy here. I am afraid it
would be extremely difficult for my son as he grow up.
Any suggestion?
Answer:
Yes and no; it is a question of the diameter of the brochial tubes. Small
tubes give a greater resistance to the airflow - so even a mild asthma can
become very serious in young children. When children grow up the bronchial
tubes diameter will grow too. If the asthma is very mild (or treated by a
good therapy)the number and severity of the attacs will decrease with the
age of the child. Thatīs why some people say asthma will cure itself.
But beware: asthma attacs are a symptom of an airway inflammation and the
resulting hyperreactivity of the bronchial system (e.g. on cold air). Since
this inflammation is increasing over the years (if there is no therapy
against it) the symptoms of the asthma will become severe. That is what
happens to your son and what you decribe in the next lines.
It is typical for asthma that the attacs happen whery often in the early
morning hours, when the lung-function is down - a normal person does not
feel this (the body doesnīt need so much oxygen when itīs sleeping) but an
asthmatic patient gets an attac and wakes up.
Yes, the asthma attacs and the deficiency of oxygen that comes along with
them have negative effects on the whole development of your son (growth,
health ...).
The situation of your son wonīt become better in the next years if you
donīt do anything effective against his asthma. The situation you describe
makes it very possible that he wonīt lose his asthma when he grows up but
will become an adult with a strong asthma.
What kind of therapy does your son get actually? (Medicaments, other
treatments...)
Here in Europe an anti-inflammatoric therapy is the first choice therapy.
The aim is to stabilize and control the asthma and give a good prognose for
their future - healing is not possible.
Against the inflammation inhaled corticosteroids are used. They have the
best effect on the inflammation and hardly side-effects because of the local
deposition in the lung. That makes it possible to reduce the doses to a very
low level. Even children are treated with inhalative corticosteroides. It is
necessary to use them regularly over a long time because the effect comes
slow and disappeares when the corticosteroid is not used.
This is added by antiobstructive therapeuticals (they open the bronchial
tubes) that can be used against the attacs and for protection. They have no
antiinflamatoric effect!
This kind of therapy can be assisted by asthma-training, sports (yes
indeed!), and -if possible - a move in a region with better climatic
conditions. (Bronchial infections caused by the bad weather will make the
asthma much worse)
I hope my open words wonīt make you afraid but I think you need more
information about the situation of your son to see it more realistic.
I donīt know anything about Sumatra. What kind of physician does your son
visit? Is it an asthma-specialist? If not - is it possible to find one
there? Your son needs proffesional help. What kind of medicaments are
available in your area?
I hope I could help you
