16 Asthma is a condition that affects the lower part of the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of lungs. A child with asthma has “hyper-responsive” airways. This means that these airways become swollen and readily react to things that can cause irritation. The irritants may include but are not limited to pets, pollen, cold weather, and mold. When the airways react to these irritants, they become narrower and even more irritated, eventually leading to asthma and making it difficult for your child to breathe. Sameer experiences a night-time cough, daytime cough, cough while playing, or inability to play due to cough, but gets better with medication, all indications suggestive of asthma. Though he may not have cough for a couple of weeks, asthma does not go away completely. It is a long-term condition that can be managed based on the symptoms, but there is no potential cure for it to date. However, if not treated properly, it can be life-threatening. “But why did Sameer get asthma?” asked Priya. I explained, “Mrs. Priya, it’s hard to say for sure, but we do know why Sameer was more likely to develop it.”
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