Pediatric Asthma Triggers

What Things Make Asthma Worse & How Can You Control Them?

Children with asthma may have airways that are chronically inflamed (swollen).

Therefore, the airways are sensitive to things that make asthma worse. Things that make asthma worse are often called asthma triggers.

These asthma triggers, either singly or together, cause symptoms in children with asthma.

Identifying and controlling or treating things that make asthma worse are essential to good asthma management.

Things that can make asthma worse include:

• Irritants

  • Examples of irritants include smoke, aerosol sprays, strong odors, dust and air pollution.

• Allergies

  • Examples allergens include pollens, mold spores, animal dander from feathered or furry animals, dust mites and cockroaches.

• Exercise

• Obesity

• Infections

• Sinusitis

• Weather

• Emotions

• Gastroesophageal reflux

• Nocturnal asthma

The things that make asthma worse often vary from child to child. Controlling and/or treating multiple things that make asthma worse are often needed. Avoidance of just one is often not enough.