Pediatric Asthma

Relevance of the Practice of Respiratory Therapy:

I have long been aware of the illness called asthma. It’s usually the children who contacted asthma and therefore it’s called pediatric asthma. I have seen a few patients suffering from asthma attack. It’s only pathetic if the patient doesn’t have any surrounding him that can give him first aid or provide him with the necessary procedures that will give him a sigh of relief. I feel delighted on the contrary if I see anyone who’s acting in a capacity of a respiratory therapist that is able to help the patient rescue from farther danger. Having been informed that pediatric asthma is still one of the main causes of emergency in hospitals, I would say that the practice of respiratory therapy is very relevant.

Diagnosis in Children:

Usually the physician will ask pertinent questions regarding medical history and symptoms which include breathing problems, history of family illnesses such as asthma, allergies, skin condition like eczema, or other lung disease. Right after, the physician will check on the child’s heart condition and lungs. The physician also will conduct an examination or test either chest X-ray or pulmonary function tests, which will help him, determine the degree of asthma by way of knowing the amount of air in the lungs and how fast it can be breathed out. By the way because children under 5 years old are not capable of doing PFT, for purposes of diagnosis, the physician relies on history, symptoms and examination for diagnosis.

Clinical manifestations of Asthma:

Pediatric asthma can be observed in terms of wheezing, which is caused by the air flow into the lungs; coughing which is kind of a dry cough; chest tightness which painful because the chest can’t ex...

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...e to save them from father danger. Having said this, hospitalization might be avoided and missing classes lessen. But however technically this kind of education will really help the patient improve lung function and make him breathe normally again. This basic education includes “prescribed medications, the proper use of inhalation devices, and the importance of compliance and monitoring.”

Works Cited

1. Laurie Barclay, MD

2. Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

3. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma-Summary Report 2007." J Allergy Clin Immunol 120.5 Nov. 2007:S94-138.

Sharma, G.D., and Payel Gupta. "Pediatric Asthma." eMedicine.com. Sept. 9, 2009.