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Asthma

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  • Follow-up appointments can be scheduled through MyChart.
  • New patients should call our Scheduling Department at 303-699-6200.
  • If you are concerned that your child or teen may have asthma, please call our Patient Care Line at 303-699-6200 to schedule an asthma evaluation.


Understanding Asthma


Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs and can make breathing difficult.

When your child breathes in, air travels through the nose or mouth down the trachea (windpipe) and into smaller airways in the lungs called the bronchi and bronchioles. In children with asthma, these airways are sensitive and can overreact to certain triggers.

Common asthma triggers include:

  • Cold air
  • Exercise
  • Allergens (such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander)
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Environmental irritants
  • Viral respiratory infections


When exposed to a trigger, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed, the muscles around the airways tighten, and extra mucus is produced. These changes cause the airways to narrow, making it harder to move air in and out of the lungs.

While everyone’s airways may narrow slightly in response to irritants, children with asthma have hyper-reactive airways, meaning they respond more strongly and more frequently.

In some mild cases, symptoms may improve on their own. However, many children require medication to control inflammation, relieve symptoms, and prevent flare-ups. With proper treatment and monitoring, most children with asthma can participate fully in school, sports, and everyday activities.


Symptoms of Asthma


Symptoms may vary from child to child and can range from mild to severe. Common signs include:


  • Wheezing – a high-pitched, whistling sound when breathing
  • Chronic cough – often worse at night, with exercise, or in cold air
  • Shortness of breath – especially during physical activity (While all children may get winded when running and playing, they typically recover quickly. Ongoing breathing difficulty may be a sign of asthma.)
  • Chest tightness – a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or discomfort in the chest



If your child experiences any of these symptoms, especially repeatedly or during specific triggers, we recommend scheduling an evaluation. Early diagnosis and proper management can significantly improve your child’s quality of life.

  • Asthma Diagnosis & Management

    What to Do in an Asthma Attack

    Call 911 if:

     

    • Child has severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, unable to speak or cry because of difficulty breathing, making grunting noises with each breath).
    • Child has passed out or has bluish lips / tongue.
    • Wheezing started suddenly after medicine, an allergic food or bee sting.
    • For more information, see Pediatric Web Asthma Attack article.

    Common Asthma Triggers

    There are a number of things which can cause an asthma attack or make asthma worse. Some of the most common asthma triggers are:

     

    Allergens:  Many people with asthma have allergies, which are a major cause of asthma symptoms. Common allergens include house dust mites, animal dander, mold, pollen, and cockroaches. Tips to reduce asthma symptoms due to allergies include:

     

    • Reduce exposure to dust mites by covering your child's mattress and pillows with allergy proof covers and wash bedding in hot water every 1 - 2 weeks. It is important to keep stuffed toys out of the bedroom and vacuum and dust regularly. Removing carpeting in the bedrooms is also helpful.
    • Reduce exposure to pollen by using an air conditioner and leaving doors and windows closed during high pollen times.
    • It is best not to have furry pets in the home if children are allergic to them. If this is not possible, keep pets out of your child's bedroom and consider using a HEPA filter. Be sure to bath pets regularly to minimize dander.
    • Treat cockroach infestation by exterminating, setting roach traps, repairing holes in walls or other entry points, and keep food and garbage well contained.
    • Prevent household mold by using exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen and adding a dehumidifier in your home. Clean existing mold contamination with detergent and water. Walls, ceilings and floors contaminated with mold due to leaks, flooding or excessive humidity may have to be replaced.

     


    Infections:  Viral and bacterial infections such as the common cold and sinusitis make asthma symptoms worse. Be sure to get your family vaccinated against the flu each year, practice good hand washing, and stay away from those who are ill.

     

    Smoking & Environmental Irritants:  Air pollution, strong odors or fumes (including perfumes and other fragrances and cleaning supplies), and tobacco smoke are common irritants that often aggravate asthma. The providers at Advanced Pediatrics strongly recommend that families avoid exposing children (particularly those with asthma) to second hand tobacco smoke. Research shows that exposure to second hand tobacco smoke causes increased visits to the doctor and emergency room, disturbed sleep, and activity limitations due to wheezing. For tips on how to quit smoking, see the following links below:

     

    • Smoking Cessation (CDC)
    • Be Tobacco Free
    • Colorado Quit Line

    Avoid other environmental irritants by checking air quality reports and keeping your child indoors when air quality is poor. Use unscented cleaning products and toiletries and avoid using mothballs, room deodorizers or scented candles.

     

    Cold Air:  Exposure to cold, dry air may aggravate asthma symptoms.

     

    Exercise:  Many patients with asthma develop wheezing, coughing and a tight feeling in their chest when exercising. This is called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Talk with your child's provider if he or she experiences exercise induced asthma symptoms.

     

    Stress:  Emotional anxiety and stress may increase asthma symptoms and trigger an attack. Proper rest, diet and exercise are important for overall health and can help in managing asthma.

  • Asthma Treatment

    The providers at Advanced Pediatrics Associates are committed to providing the most advanced care available for children with asthma. As such, our clinical committee regularly reviews the latest advancements in asthma care. In addition, our providers and staff attend in-service meetings with community allergy and asthma specialists and review recommendations for improving patient training in using asthma medications. Our asthma program includes a thorough evaluation, development of an asthma action plan, regular follow-up appointments, and ongoing management of medications.

     

    The goals of our Asthma Care Program are to help patients to:

     

    • Maintain normal lung function and activity levels
    • Prevent chronic symptoms
    • Use medication appropriately, minimizing use of "rescue" medications
    • Recognize and develop strategies to avoid triggers
    • Reduce acute attacks which require sick visits, trips to the emergency room, and hospitalizations

     

    The Asthma Care Program at Advanced Pediatrics consists of the following components:

     

    • Annual well care appointment
    • Asthma check-ups every 3 to 6 months
    • Participation in the Asthma Registry
    • Annual flu vaccine
    • Nurse advice

    Asthma check-ups are scheduled to evaluate how well asthma is being controlled, adjust medications, change medication technique, and provide education. They are scheduled every 3 - 6 months depending on the severity / history of asthma symptoms. These check-ups are in addition to the annual well care visit. If your child is under the care of a specialist for his or her asthma, the three to six month check-up visits are not required, but please have the specialist send regular reports to our office.

     

    Advanced Pediatrics uses "spirometry" to measure lung function at all asthma check-ups, as well as some acute / sick visits. Please bring all medications -- including rescue inhaler and spacer device -- to all asthma appointments. In addition, please download, print and complete the appropriate Asthma Follow-Up Packet (see parent handouts) prior to every asthma visit, and bring it to your visit.

     

    Prescription Refills

    When your child is diagnosed with asthma, the development of an asthma action plan, regular follow-up appointments and ongoing management of medications are important aspects of care. At Advanced Pediatrics we have specific prescription refill guidelines we follow to ensure your child gets the proper care.

     

    When prescribed medications are not managing your child's symptoms, please call our Nurse Line (303-699-6200, Option 2) to discuss your child's symptoms and the need for an appointment for further evaluation.

     

    Refill requests for your child's medications may be made online through our MyChart patient portal or called in to our central prescription refill line at 720-870-0244. Your medication refill request will be filled based on your child's last asthma check-up and well-care visit. If your child is due for a well-care or asthma check-up visit, you will be asked to schedule that appointment.

     

    Asthma Registry

    Advanced Pediatrics Associates participates in the Colorado Pediatric Collaborative Asthma Registry, which is designed to track, monitor, and improve the health of asthma patients. Patients in the data base are classified as having intermittent or persistent asthma. The asthma registry was developed to: 

     

    1. Allow for optimal treatment plans and better parent / patient education
    2. Help asthma patients maintain activity and maximal pulmonary function
    3. Reduce acute visits and trips to the emergency department

     

    In addition, the Asthma Registry tracks whether asthma patients have received their annual flu vaccine, which is very important to improving the health of asthmatic children.

     

    If you have a child that has been diagnosed with asthma or wheezing, ask your provider whether your child has been included in the registry. If your child has not had an asthma visit in the last three to six months, please call our Patient Care Line at 303-699-6200 to schedule one as soon as possible.

  • How do you diagnose and treat ADHD?

    To evaluate and diagnose ADHD, our professional team use tools such as a checklist of symptoms, talking with parents and children about their challenges, and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Your child also has a thorough physical exam to be sure another problem is not the cause of their symptoms.


    Once your child has an ADHD diagnosis, their pediatrician will prescribe treatment and schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor progress.


    Your pediatrician may recommend conventional and/or holistic treatments, depending on each child’s needs. For example, your child may improve with a combination of medication, dietary changes, and behavioral support.


    If you or your child’s teacher are concerned about your child’s inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive behaviors, call our office to schedule an ADHD evaluation.

  • Asthma Forms







  • Asthma Websites












  • Asthma Recommended Reading

    Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma: National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3 Paperback – June 24, 2012. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and Blood Institute, National Heart, Lung


    2019 Pocket Guide for Asthma Management: For Adults and Children over 5 years. Global Initiative for Asthma


    There are multiple books available online for children and teens.