Managing Asthma
The more allergies a child has, the more severe the asthma. Making lifestyle changes to reduce allergy attacks and other triggers is extremely important.
Indoor Protection
House dust is a reservoir for pollen and dust mites.Some experts believe that reducing household allergens and pollutants in the home could reduce asthma in children by 40%. In addition, a 2002 study suggested that this approach might reduce the risk for asthma and allergies before it develops in small children.
Controlling Pets. People with asthma who already have pets and are not allergic to them probably have a low risk for developing such allergies later on. When children are exposed to more than one dog or cat during their first year, they have a much lower risk for allergies and asthma.
For children who have an existing allergy to pets, however, the pets should be given away or kept outside. If this isn't possible, they should at least be confined to carpet-free areas outside the bedroom. Cats harbor significant allergens, which can even be carried on clothing; dogs usually present fewer problems. Washing animals once a week can reduce allergens. Dry shampoos, such as Allerpet, are now available for both cats and dogs to remove allergens from skin and fur and are easier to administer than wet shampoos.
Preventing Exposure to Cigarette and Cooking Smoke. Parents who smoke are strongly urged to make strenuous efforts to quit. Studies are finding that exposure to second-hand smoke in the home increases the risk for asthma and asthma-related emergency room visits in children. Even smoky cooking can worsen asthma.
Parental smoking has been shown to increase the airway responsiveness of infants as early as the first 2 to 10 weeks of life. This extends even to the fetus of pregnant women who smoke. Such mothers tend to have babies born at a low birth weight, which affects lung function and increases babies' risks for asthma.
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