What is asthma in children?

Asthma is a condition that affects the tubes (airways) that carry air in and out of the lungs. When the airway becomes irritated, the muscles that surround the walls of the airways become tighter. This causes the airway to become narrower, with the lining also becoming inflamed and swollen. Occasionally, this also causes phlegm or sticky mucus to be produced which makes the airways narrower. This makes it difficult to breathe and leads to the symptoms of asthma. Asthma affects around one out of every five children in Ireland.

Asthma is a long term condition which can be well managed with an understanding of its triggers and regular medicine. With the right medicine and treatment plan, your child should be able to manage without symptoms and continue to enjoy their life.