Difference Between Child Asthma & Adult Asthma

Are you wondering how child asthma differs from the adult asthma? Are you keen on learning the difference between the child asthma and adult asthma? If you nodded along in agreement, then think no further. Scroll down to discover all about it.

What Is Asthma Or Bronchial Asthma?

Bronchial Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease with an episodic occurrence of dyspnea with wheezing. As a result, you may suffer from chronic inflammation which occurs due to airway hyperresponsiveness that may make you suffer from recurrent episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and breathlessness.

Pathophysiology:

Narrowing of the airways occurs due to the inflammation of the lining mucosa and contraction of the smooth muscles of bronchi. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a characteristic feature of bronchial asthma. It can increase with allergic and non- allergic stimuli.

Difference Between Child Asthma & Adult Asthma:

There are certain common signs and symptoms that indicate asthma. Some of the most common symptoms in asthma are as follows:

Recurrent cold
Nose block
Wheezing
Chest congestion
Increased mucus secretion in bronchi
Shortness of breath
Recurrent infection of a Bronchial mucosa

	CHILD ASTHMA	ADULT ASTHMA
Allergic Asthma	Most common. Occurs more than 90% because of allergens.	Common. Occurs around 50%-60 % because of allergens
Common Cause	· Due to an increased weight in the child. · Due to a strong family history of asthma. · Due to a genetic history of asthma · Premature delivery. · Complications caused during delivery.	· Smoking · Occupational hazards · Continuous change in the temperature and humidity. · Intense exercise · Psychological factors such as emotional stress, etc.
Type of Asthma	Mostly occurs due to an Extrinsic type of Asthma	Mostly occurs due to an Intrinsic type of Asthma
IgE level	Raised	Normal
Allergic skin tests	Positive	Negative
Duration	Lasts from the birth until 5 years of age.	Continuous for a long time or life-long. A life-long treatment can play a supportive role in alleviating the discomfort and treating it effectively.

Child asthma can be triggered out easily because of the most common symptoms.
The suppressed immune system leads to adult asthma.

How Child Asthma Differs From Adult Asthma?

Child Asthma:

Kids with child asthma are more prone to suffer from intermittent symptoms. However, some kids may suffer from daily symptoms. Also, as children are more sensitive to the allergens or triggers and as their body is still developing, they are more vulnerable to an asthma attack. Getting in contact with allergens can trigger an asthma attack easily in kids.

Fortunately, the positive factor is that, asthma symptoms of may turn less severe or vanish completely as the children grow and attend puberty. However, it may recur during the later phase of the life.

According to the medical researches and studies, secondhand smoke (secondary smoke) is quite dangerous for the kids. Most kids suffering asthma suffer from the worsening of their condition by getting in contact with secondary smoke.

Besides this, kids with child asthma tend to have more emergency, routine office, and urgent care visits than adults with adult asthma.

Adult Asthma:

In adults, the symptoms and discomfort due to asthma are quite persistent. They often need daily treatment to regulate the symptoms and flare-ups of asthma. According to the studies and research, women are more prone than men to suffer from asthma after the age of 20. About one-third of adult asthma individuals experience flare-ups or worsening of their condition due to allergens. Also, obesity raises the risk of development of asthma in adults. However, death due to the attack of asthma is quite rare and occurs only in adults who are over 65 years.

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Investigations:

CBC: CBC shows eosinophils raised.
Serum IgE: Serum IgE is mostly raised in children.
Sputum: Sputum shows eosinophils, Charcot- Layden crystals, etc.
X-Ray Of Chest: X-Ray of the chest shows over inflation of lungs in the early stage and emphysematous changes in the later stage.
Pulmonary function tests: Pulmonary function tests show FEV1/ FVC ratio which is reduced.
ECG: ECG shows normal features except tachycardia. Sometimes RBBB may be observed.

Differential Diagnosis:

Chronic Bronchitis: A cough with sputum for a long time with the development of wheezing and breathlessness are present. It mostly occurs in middle-aged smokers.
Obstruction of Trachea and Bronchus: Difficulty in inspiration with the absence of wheezing are the major symptoms in obstruction of trachea and bronchus.
Uremic Asthma: Uremia is present. Hyperventilation with Kussmaul’s air hunger and Cheyne-Stokes breathing are present.
Bronchopneumonia: Increase in temperature with dyspnea.
Tropical eosinophilia: A cough particularly in the night and sometimes with blood are the major findings.
Allergic aspergillosis: Episodic wheeze, breathlessness, and pulmonary infiltration are present. Blood eosinophilia is present.
Pulmonary embolism: A sudden onset of breathlessness with a severe chest pain and rusty sputum occur, but no wheeze or rhonchi are present.

Now that you know the difference between childhood asthma and adult asthma, do not ignore if a child or adult among your friends and family happens to suffer from asthma. Count on homeopathy without a second thought for getting the child asthma or adult asthma treated.

– Written by Dr. Simran R., Associate doctor to Dr. Shah

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