The only thing worse than childhood asthma is asthma in toddlers. Most children who have asthma developed the disease while they were still toddlers.  A reported 5 million American children suffer from asthma,with 864,000 received emergency treatment, and 173,000 hospitalized  annually for severe symptoms, it is important that your toddler be evaluated for asthma as early as possible.

Since it is more difficult to diagnose asthma among infants and toddlers, it would be best to look for signs or symptoms that characterize the disease. Many cases of asthma deaths were due to parents' inability to recognize the severity of the toddler's condition. Common colds and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis can exhibit asthma-like symptoms. Parents need to observe  their toddlers closely when they  develop a cold or other respiratory infection especially when they notice wheezing or a worsening cough.

When your toddler is diagnosed with asthma, it does not mean he will be  afflicted with the illness into adult life.  On the contrary, there are numerous studies where asthma in toddlers no longer persisted into adulthood. It can also be deduced from this observation that toddlers are more susceptible to asthma triggers but develop an immunity as they get older.

A toddler with asthma will have persistent cough that is hacking and congested. Sometimes the toddler may have wheezing cough and sometimes have none. In addition to this symptom, your toddler will display muscle retractions and flaring nostrils. He would also experience difficulty in breathing making feedings difficult. You will also observe your toddler rapid breathing even during sleep. If you are concerned that your toddler is breathing too rapidly, you should take him to the nearest hospital.

Another sign you should watch out for is your toddler's lack of stamina and enthusiasm during playtime. This may be because he is associating physical activities with breathing difficulties and naturally gets discouraged to join other children. The toddler should be checked by the pediatrician who can determine if your toddler has asthma.

Asthma in toddlers may be more difficult to manage. The best way to do this is to enlist the help of your healh  care provider and his teachers. You can prepare some detailed instructions so they would know what to do in case of an asthma episode. Your toddler's pediatrician can help you prepare this set of instructions.

You should never take your toddler to a smoky place since cigarette smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Your pediatrician can test your child's sensitivity to dust mite protein. Sometimes, parents overlook the fact that stuffed toys are hosts to these dust mites. During the fall and spring seasons when levels of pollen are high, you should limit your toddler's outdoor activities.

Emotional stress is also considered to be a trigger factor.  Stress may be a precipitating cause of an asthma attack and may  also worsen asthma symptoms. Anxiety or panic attacks should be dealt with calm to help relax your child. The moment your toddler calms down you can administer treatment appropriate bronchodilator medication.

Asthma in toddlers and young children is a serious illness and the parents need to understand the precipitating factors including environmental pollens and smoke as well as emotional stress triggers for acute asthma attacks.  Parents, teacher and friends need to have the readily available medications for the immediate and effective treatment of asthma, so that their children may continue to lead an active  and healthy lifestyle.