How To Care For Your Child's Asthma During Winter

According to the Global Asthma Report 2018, about 6% of children in India are affected by asthma. This is a massive number given India's population of almost 140 crores! Despite the commonness of asthma in children, it is surprising that many parents are in the dark about how to care for their children with asthma. Matters get even more difficult to handle during the winter season.

In winters, the threat of virus infections increases. Additionally, children are also more susceptible to the common cold and other diseases this season. All of this contributes greatly to increasing the risks of asthma attacks in children. So, how to control asthma in children during winters?

How can you avoid asthma attacks in the cold?

• To prevent asthma attacks, try to stay indoors when the temperature dips very low, especially if it’s below 10°F (-12.2°C).
• If you do have to go outside, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf to warm the air before you breathe it in.
• Drink extra fluids in the winter. This can keep the mucus in your lungs thinner and therefore easier for your body to remove.
• Try to avoid anyone who appears to be sick.
• Get your flu vaccine early in the fall.
• Vacuum and dust your home often to remove indoor allergens.
• Wash your sheets and blankets every week in hot water to get rid of dust mites.
• If you exercise outdoors in cold weather, use your inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before you exercise. This opens up your airways so you can breathe easier.
• Carry an inhaler with you in case you have an asthma attack.
• Warm-up for at least 10 to 15 minutes before you work out.
• Wear a mask or scarf over your face to warm the air you breathe in.

Avoid Campfires and Fireplaces

It can be tempting to wander off into the wilderness for a campfire, or maybe just cosy up near a fireplace at home. But if your child's asthma diagnosis is positive, then you must avoid them at all costs.

Campfires and fireplaces spread particulate matter like ash all around along with suffocating toxic gases that are invisible to the naked eye. Inhaling the debris and the gases can quickly trigger asthma symptoms in your child.

Always Carry an Extra Asthma Inhaler

Children are very playful and can misplace items rather quickly. Solely entrusting the children with an asthma inhaler is not a wise decision. As a parent, always carry an extra inhaler with you so that you can help your children when asthma symptoms manifest and they misplace their inhalers.

If your child's asthma symptoms are suddenly escalated, then they might require an asthma nebulizer to help them breathe. Simply put, the asthma nebulizer turns liquid medication into vapour, which is delivered directly into the lungs of the child upon inhaling. There are also different types of nebulizers, like:

• Jet Nebulizers
• Ultrasonic Nebulizers
• Mesh Nebulizers

It is important to select trustworthy options when choosing inhalers. Go for reputed brands that provide good quality care.

Have an Asthma Action Plan Ready

Sometimes, your children may develop asthma attacks out of the blue. To counter such circumstances, always have an asthma action plan ready. Since every child is different, it is best to consult with your child's paediatrician to formulate the plan.

Ensure Proper Hygiene

Make sure that your children regularly wash their hands after touching dirty surfaces. This will not only help prevent bacterial and viral infections but also inhibit dust and other harmful particulate matter, making their way into children's respiratory tracts from their hands.

Additionally, children that are undergoing asthma treatment should minimise their time outdoors when the temperature falls. Special care should be taken for children below the age of five.

Conclusion

In addition to the five tips mentioned above, you may also take smaller preliminary precautions like always making your child carry a scarf when outdoors so that they can stay warm and breathe through them if necessary when the air is too cold or dry. Asthma is particularly inconvenient and unpredictable for children during winters. Therefore, it is best to stay as prepared as possible.

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