"My child has asthma": some answers to parents' questions

The incidence of asthma appears to have doubled since the 1970s. 15% of children in the UK are now estimated to have the condition. Children's asthma needs to be taken seriously by parents, health professionals and teachers. Its severity varies and it is a potentially life-threatening condition. The reason why children develop asthma is not known. Theories include a family tendency to asthma and allergy, house-dust mite and parental smoking. There is no clear evidence of a link between asthma and traffic fumes and air pollution. The vast majority of people with asthma take inhaled steroids, and these produce little or no side-effects. Tablet forms of the drug also have few side-effects if used for short courses of a few days. Only a minority need to take steroid tablets regularly, and need to discuss the issue of side-effects versus improvements in symptoms with their doctor. Most children use a preventer and a reliever medication. It is important that parents and child understand how and when to use each. Research suggests that two-thirds of children may grow out of their asthma symptoms, though asthma that is triggered by an allergic response may recur in later life. The prognosis for pre-school children is good.