Patient's question:
Respected Doctor: My child is 8 and a half years old. She started experiencing asthma-like symptoms last year, but the doctor said it wasn't asthma. This year, she had three episodes: one at the beginning of August and another on the 20th. However, after taking theophylline, her condition improved, and she only needed to take it for one day. Could she still have asthma? How should it be treated? Thank you for your answer!!!How to confirm if she has asthma: Half a year
Duration of the current episode: One day
Current general condition: Fair
Medical history: Allergic rhinitis
Previous diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes: Not asthma, treated with theophylline
Doctor's answer:
The main symptoms of asthma attacks include coughing, sputum production, chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. These are primarily caused by the swelling of the inner wall of the airways, an increase in secretions, and the contraction of smooth muscles surrounding the airways, leading to varying degrees of narrowing of the bronchi. During an asthma attack, exhaling is more difficult than inhaling, and the lungs often retain excessive air that cannot be expelled, which can also cause a feeling of fullness in the chest and emphysema. The common symptoms are as follows:1. Coughing
Coughing is a very common symptom of respiratory fatigue. It can occur with colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, or even tuberculosis and lung cancer. Coughing is also one of the most common symptoms of asthma. Many patients may only exhibit prolonged coughing at the onset of the disease. Generally, coughing from respiratory infections subsides within 2 to 3 weeks. However, if the cough persists for more than 1 to 2 months without improvement, primarily dry cough, and is particularly severe at night, upon waking, or after exercise, with normal lung function tests, normal chest X-rays, and no abnormalities found in ear, nose, and throat examinations, and if antibiotics are ineffective, it may be diagnosed as atypical asthma. Improvement after treatment with bronchodilators, antihistamines, or corticosteroids also aids in diagnosis. If the prolonged cough can be ruled out as being caused by foreign objects in the airway or other diseases like tuberculosis, it can be diagnosed as allergic or cough-variant asthma.
2. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath refers to the sensation of difficulty breathing. Due to the contraction of bronchial smooth muscles, patients may experience shortness of breath. In mild cases, it is only noticeable during exercise or strenuous physical activity, with only chest tightness in daily life. In more severe cases, the symptoms are more pronounced, with difficulty breathing even at rest. Others can often hear wheezing sounds while the patient breathes. In more severe cases, persistent wheezing occurs, with rapid breathing and inability to lie flat. Sitting upright is the only way to feel slightly more comfortable.
3. Nighttime Asthma
Many asthma patients experience waking up at night or in the early morning due to breathing difficulties. Sometimes, they need to use bronchodilator medication to fall back asleep. At night, especially between 4 and 5 a.m., airflow obstruction is most severe, making breathing difficult and increasing sensitivity to triggers. In severe cases, patients may be forced to sit in a position with their hands forward and shoulders raised, sweating profusely, lips and fingers turning blue, unable to sleep soundly, and in extreme pain. Besides causing sleep deprivation, it can also affect learning or work.
4. Other Symptoms
Asthma patients may develop allergic reactions in their airways after inhaling allergens such as house dust mites or animal hair. They often experience symptoms like itchy nose (e.g., rhinitis), itchy eyes, and skin allergies.