Children's Services

Commonly Heard Terms

ALLERGIES

The immune system protects the body from harmful substances, but in people suffering from allergies, the immune system overreacts to substances that normally do not cause a problem in others. These substances are called allergens. Allergens are eaten, inhaled, injected, or come in contact with the skin. When an allergic reaction occurs, the immune system releases large amounts of histamine. Histamine produces symptoms of allergies, including wheezing, sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, itching, swelling, watery eyes, and runny nose. Anyone can develop allergies, regardless of age, race, or sex. The tendency to develop allergies is inherited. However a child is not necessarily born with the same allergy as the parents. A child may develop some allergies early in life, while others may take years to develop. Some children may outgrow some allergies while others keep their allergies throughout their lives.

Some allergic reactions can be fatal and may develop extremely quickly. Anaphylactic shock describes a rapidly developing allergic reaction to a particular substance or allergen. This severe reaction produces one or more of the following symptoms: swelling of the eyes and face, hives all over the body, light-headedness, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart beat, and a loss of consciousness. The symptoms can occur at the same time, often developing in less than ten minutes. Death may result if the person is not given adrenaline (epinephrine) and taken to the hospital immediately. If you suspect your child has an allergy, consult a doctor who has experience in treating allergies, or an allergist. In some cases, prescription medications may be needed to help relieve symptoms. It may also be necessary to wear an allergy alert bracelet.

APNEA

This is a term used when a baby periodically stops breathing. The premature baby sometimes forgets to breathe due to their immature breathing system and are therefore placed on monitors. As they get older this problem usually disappears.

ASTHMA PREVENTION

In order to prevent asthma attacks in children, it is important that the factors or triggers that cause asthma attacks are identified. Common triggers are animal dander particularly from the hair of cats and dogs, housedust mites, mold spores, pollens from trees, grasses and weeds, viral infections, environmental pollutants such as second hand tobacco smoke, and certain foods. Asthma attacks may also occur as a result of exposure to cold, dry air, crying and rapid breathing from exercise, strong odours from perfumes, paint aerosols, and weather conditions in which high humidity is present.

If your child is experiencing asthma symptoms, it is beneficial to keep a diary in which you can track when the asthma attacks occur and the potential triggers. This should be discussed with your doctor. In children greater than five years of age, monitoring peak flow using a peak flow meter may help in recognizing the severity of illness. This monitor measures the speed at which a person can breathe out air. The best of three measurements are recorded at the same time in the morning and evening. Monitoring peak flows can assist you in managing your child's medication.

If your child is taking medication, it is also important that controllers are taken on a routine basis and relievers are taken when needed. Controllers are medications used to prevent inflammation of the airway and to help symptoms from occurring. Controllers may include corticosteroids or antiallergic agents. Relievers are medications used to relieve symptoms of cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing or to prevent/delay these symptoms from occurring prior to exercising or being exposed to smoke or cold air. If you find that your child requires more relievers on a routine basis or that peak flows are becoming worse, you should discuss this with your doctor. Again, to prevent asthma attacks in children, it is important to identify the triggers that cause an asthma attack and avoid these triggers as much as possible.

ASTHMA SYMPTOMS

Asthma is a breathing disorder of the airways that is characterized by recurrent attacks of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms occur as a result of being in contact with a trigger, causing an asthma attack. Airways become narrow and inflamed making it difficult for the child to breathe out. The child must work harder to move air in and out of the lungs. Mucus may be produced as well. In younger children or infants, asthma is more difficult to diagnose. Generally, a good history of symptoms in this age group leads to the diagnosis. The symptoms of asthma may occur quickly or may be delayed depending on what has triggered the attack. In Canada, approximately ten percent of children have physician-diagnosed asthma. In children twice as many boys as girls have asthma. The incidence is greatest in the 5-9 year old age group. It is estimated that asthma symptoms appear to resolve in 30-50% of children at puberty but reappear in adulthood.

Symptoms of asthma are treated with two types of medications. These are called controllers and relievers. Controllers are medications used to prevent inflammation of the airways and to help symptoms from occurring. Controllers may include corticosteroids or antiallergic agents. These medications must be taken on a routine basis. Relievers are medications used to relieve symptoms of cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing or to prevent/delay these symptoms from occurring prior to exercising or being exposed to smoke or cold air. It is important to use the medications properly.

Should you find your child is taking more relievers on a routine basis this should be discussed with your doctor.