Asthma is a chronic condition that affects 1 in 12 children. This causes narrowing of the airways, leading to breathing problems like wheezing, shortness of breath, etc. This can disrupt sleep, play, and other activities.
Common Symptoms of Asthma include coughing, chest pain, tightness, or discomfort while breathing, gasping while speaking. There are several instances where Asthma might get severe, especially, during cold climate, at night times, at places where there is no proper ventilation. If you feel like your child is suffering from these symptoms often then you must take him/her to the doctor immediately. Depending on the severity of your child's condition, the doctor proceeds further by providing relevant medication and treatment.
One of the best ways to control asthma is by decreasing the spread of rhinovirus. This is what has happened now, due to the strict measures followed to control COVID-19 spread, the rhinovirus spread and infections have greatly decreased. This article will explain what doctors say about the sudden decrease in the number of Asthma attacks in kids.
Severe asthma attacks in kids can be life-threatening as they have to deal with breathing problems, persistent coughing, etc. Numerous severe asthma attacks have been recorded until now. COVID-19 is affecting the entire world adversely but doctors say that since the lockdown of COVID-19 was announced the number of severe asthma attacks cases in kids has greatly decreased.
Children Doctors of Philadelphia say, there is a dramatic decrease in the number of patients to be admitted for severe asthma attacks. Doctors have noticed around a 60% decrease in the daily asthma emergency visits, 83% decrease in steroid, 87% decrease in the outpatient visit, and 84% decrease in hospital visits.
Dr. David Hill, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania said that they were surprised to see less severe and non-severe asthma emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhinovirus is a virus that is related to causing common cold and asthma infections. Dr. Hill also mentioned " What we found is that rhinovirus infections were less after the shutdown"
Dr. Shyam Joshi also says that there were only a few urgent cases in his area.
In Baltimore, Dr. Corinne Keet said, handwashing, covering the faces, staying away from other people will reduce the virus transmission.
Hill suggested that a detailed study on the advantages of wearing masks and following proper hygiene is needed. He also added that a better understanding of how the sudden decrease in the asthma activity occurred will help reduce asthma cases globally. Emulating some of the things at least in a group of people with severe asthma can prevent further asthma emergency cases.
Doctors believe that the sudden drop of severe asthma attacks might be due to social distancing, maintaining proper hygiene, and wearing masks regularly. The shutdown of schools and public places are also said to be a major reason.
.There are a few other ways to prevent asthma triggers in your children. Maintain a hygienic environment free of dust, practice the habit of handwashing, check pollen count reports properly, and follow proper remedies for Asthma. These are a few ways to control asthma.
