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Asthma Means Inflammation

Children with persistent asthma may have inflammation (swelling) in their airways all the time — even when they are not experiencing symptoms.

This inflammation can make your child's lungs sensitive to the things that can trigger their asthma.

While it is critical to treat sudden symptoms when they occur with a rescue inhaler, the goal for asthma management is to control the inflammation that can lead to asthma attacks.

What happens inside your child's airways when they come in contact with a trigger?

Inflammation in your child's lungs can make them sensitive and easily irritated. When your child comes in contact with a trigger, the lining of the airways swells up and becomes clogged with mucus.

At the same time, muscles constrict and grow tighter. This can make it hard to breathe and cause asthma symptoms.

It is important to use a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. However, rescue inhalers do not treat the inflammation that can lead to asthma attacks. A maintenance inhaler can help prevent or reduce inflammation (swelling) that can lead to asthma attacks.

What the experts from American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology say:

"Asthma means inflammation of the airways. The goal of management is to control this inflammation."