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Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, does this all sound familiar to you? As a parent of a child with asthma it's all too familiar to me. That feeling of helplessness when your child can't breath is just awful. When my second son was 2 years old he developed a persistent cough. Because this was my second child I thought I knew that I needed to wait to see if he would just get better before contacting the doctor. So after a week of this annoying cough, (to me as well as to him) off we went to the doctor. I figured she would give me some antibiotics, maybe some cough medicine and I'd be off to wait it out. With my son on my lap facing the door, in walked the doctor. She immediately called the nurse and told her he needed epinephrine and the nubulizer. I had no idea what these things were and she didn't seem all that worried so I didn't worry either. Later, when things had calmed down, the doctor said she was sorry for being so abrupt but that my son's lips were turning blue from lack of oxygen. I was floored! How could I not know he was so sick? She said that at that age they don't really complain much and if you don't know what to look for you really wouldn't realize what he was going through. Well as those of you who have children with asthma know the long battle begins. Inhalers, nebulizers, steroid treatments, long days, long nights and a lot of worrying.

I am here to tell you that there is hope for those of you living with the disease. You need to learn the things that trigger the asthma so you can head it off as best as you can. In my son's case it started in the fall when the air temperature started to change. Playing out in the cooler air then coming into the warmth would trigger it. Have them use the inhaler before the attack begins. This seemed to help my son. As my son got older his asthma improved. By the time he reached puberty, his symptoms had pretty much disappeared! He occasionally has an attack in the fall during soccer season, but it is controlled with one dose of his inhaler. In fact, for the most part the inhaler expires without him even having to use it more than a few times.

Now, of course, not everyone is going to have this much success, but I'd just want you to know that there is hope. Asthma doesn't have to mean a terrible life filled with restrictions. Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor and I think you and your child will have a good life, that may even one day be asthma free!

Learn more about this author, Mary Griffiths.
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