Asthma is the leading serious chronic illness among children. It is estimated that more than 6 million children under 18 years old have asthma. Take this true/false quiz with eight questions to see how much you know about childhood asthma. After each question, you will find out if your answer is correct or incorrect. Information regarding asthma in childhood and how it may be managed will be provided.

Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways in the lungs (bronchi) triggered by allergy, viral respiratory infections, and airborne irritants.

Correct.

Childhood asthma is a disorder that may be inherited. It has a strong allergic component resulting in inflammation that causes the airways to overreact and produce increased mucus, swelling of the mucosal lining, and tightening of the airway muscles.

Incorrect.

Childhood asthma is a disorder that may be inherited. It has a strong allergic component resulting in inflammation that causes the airways to overreact and produce increased mucus, swelling of the mucosal lining, and tightening of the airway muscles.

To diagnose asthma, a physician relies solely on taking a medical history combined with a physical examination.

Correct.

Actually, a physician may gain additional information with the use of pulmonary function tests or other lab tests. These tests include spirometry (recording the amount of air being moved in and out of the lungs), peak flow monitoring (measuring the amount of air leaving the lungs), chest x-rays, blood tests (to analyze the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood), and allergy tests.

Incorrect.

Actually, a physician may gain additional information with the use of pulmonary function tests or other lab tests. These tests include spirometry (recording the amount of air being moved in and out of the lungs), peak flow monitoring (measuring the amount of air leaving the lungs), chest x-rays, blood tests (to analyze the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood), and allergy tests.

Asthma symptoms are very similar to cold or flu symptoms.

Correct.

Asthma symptoms do not include many of the symptoms associated with a cold or flu such as sniffles, headache, and fever. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, either constant or off and on; wheezing or a whistling sound heard while a child is breathing; trouble breathing or shortness of breath when a child is playing or exercising; and chest tightness that may make a child complain of chest pain.

Incorrect.

Asthma symptoms do not include many of the symptoms associated with a cold or flu such as sniffles, headache, and fever. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, either constant or off and on; wheezing or a whistling sound heard while a child is breathing; trouble breathing or shortness of breath when a child is playing or exercising; and chest tightness that may make a child complain of chest pain.

Episodes of asthma may be triggered by exercise and weather.

Correct.

Asthma may be triggered by several factors including exercise and weather (breathing in cold air). Other factors, such as allergens (pollen, mold, food, animals), irritants (aerosol sprays, perfume), infections, sensitivity to medications, air pollution, and tobacco and wood smoke may trigger asthma.

Incorrect.

Asthma may be triggered by several factors including exercise and weather (breathing in cold air). Other factors, such as allergens (pollen, mold, food, animals), irritants (aerosol sprays, perfume), infections, sensitivity to medications, air pollution, and tobacco and wood smoke may trigger asthma.

Asthma symptoms cannot be prevented or controlled.

Correct.

The good news is that asthma trigger factors usually can be determined and then avoided or managed. An evaluation by an asthma/allergy specialist will help to determine triggers specific to an individual child. And because the severity of the asthma attack can vary from child to child, a specialist will evaluate the best therapy to help your child.

Incorrect.

The good news is that asthma trigger factors usually can be determined and then avoided or managed. An evaluation by an asthma/allergy specialist will help to determine triggers specific to an individual child. And because the severity of the asthma attack can vary from child to child, a specialist will evaluate the best therapy to help your child.

Medications that control asthma must be given everyday.

Correct.

The amount, frequency, and duration of medications will depend on the triggers and frequency of a child’s asthma episodes. Some children only have asthma episodes off and on throughout the year, and others have problems regularly. For example, those children who wheeze after exercise may only need an inhaled bronchodilator (taken in through the mouth by breathing in deeply to open airways). For children with mild, intermittent, or severe asthma, anti-inflammatory medications (taken through the mouth to reduce inflammation) may be recommended. Finally, some children may benefit from systemic medications taken in pill form.

Incorrect.

The amount, frequency, and duration of medications will depend on the triggers and frequency of a child’s asthma episodes. Some children only have asthma episodes off and on throughout the year, and others have problems regularly. For example, those children who wheeze after exercise may only need an inhaled bronchodilator (taken in through the mouth by breathing in deeply to open airways). For children with mild, intermittent, or severe asthma, anti-inflammatory medications (taken through the mouth to reduce inflammation) may be recommended. Finally, some children may benefit from systemic medications taken in pill form.

Children as young as three years old may be monitored at home with a device that measures how well air flows from the lungs.

Correct.

A Peak Flow Meter is a portable, hand-held device that tests for a person’s ability to push air out of his/her lungs. These measurements help your child’s physician make decisions about what medications to prescribe to help you manage your asthma. In addition, having this information can aid in deciding when medications may be decreased or increased.

Incorrect.

A Peak Flow Meter is a portable, hand-held device that tests for a person’s ability to push air out of his/her lungs. These measurements help your child’s physician make decisions about what medications to prescribe to help you manage your asthma. In addition, having this information can aid in deciding when medications may be decreased or increased.

Parents should be open and honest with their child about asthma, providing age-appropriate information.

Correct.

Parents may have strong feelings about learning that their child has asthma. But, it is important for parents to teach a child about the challenges of managing a chronic illness. Parents can aid their child in learning self-care as they mature and become more self-sufficient. Parents can help a child learn about prevention and what triggers may be causing the asthma. It is important that a parent be observant and consistent in the support of a child with asthma.

Incorrect.

Parents may have strong feelings about learning that their child has asthma. But, it is important for parents to teach a child about the challenges of managing a chronic illness. Parents can aid their child in learning self-care as they mature and become more self-sufficient. Parents can help a child learn about prevention and what triggers may be causing the asthma. It is important that a parent be observant and consistent in the support of a child with asthma.

You answered out of 8 questions correctly.

Remember, every family can learn to manage childhood asthma. Keep the following in mind:

• Hearing that your child has asthma can bring up strong emotions, but with time positive adjustments can be beneficial.
  
• Toddlers will not understand much about their condition, but parents can use creativity to make the treatment times as pleasant as possible.
  
• Pre-school age children can help with peak flow monitoring and describe symptoms to their parents.
  
• School-age children and teenagers should be actively managing their asthma. Sometimes teens will fail to adhere to treatment, and parents may need to prepare “contracts” with their child to outline rewards and consequences.

Consult your child’s physician for more information and regular checkups.