Asthma Treatment for Children in Scranton, PA

At Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania, our pediatricians are committed to helping all of our patients achieve their health goals in a collaborative and supportive environment. Our number one priority is the health of your child. Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania is able to blend the latest in health information technology, our years of pediatric experience, and genuine compassion to deliver the finest medical care available for your child. We offer a variety of pediatric services for your child including asthma treatment in Scranton, PA. 

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult for air to pass through your lungs properly. It can start at any age and nearly 26 million Americans have asthma, 7 million of them being children. Unfortunately, there is no cure of asthma. However, with proper management, people living with asthma can live completely normal and healthy lives without asthma.

The Causes of Asthma

The swollen airways in the lungs become sensitive to certain triggers, and when those triggers enter the body, those airways narrow making it difficult to breathe which leads to asthma attacks, complications and sometimes death. The key is to understand the triggers that cause asthma. Sometimes, you may not even know you have it until you’re exposed to those triggers. This means the environment you live in is a huge cause and risk factor of asthma. Additionally, genetics is a risk factor for asthma.

Symptoms of Asthma

You may be wondering if your child has asthma, but unsure if it’s something else. According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation, If any of these symptoms occur chronically or only around certain triggers, your child may have asthma:

• Tight feeling in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing

However, it’s very possible a variety of other conditions are causing these symptoms, such as different allergies. Consult with your pediatrician about whether or not your child has asthma.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Asthma at Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania

One of our pediatricians will need to conduct tests to diagnose your child. First, they will ask symptoms, medical history, experiences, etc. to get a good sense if asthma is a possibility. Typically, testing or a trial period of asthma medication will be given, depending on the results, with a follow-up appointment to monitor the outcome.

If you think your child has asthma, call Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania at (570) 346-1464, or contact your pediatrician directly to set up an appointment.