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Baby Your Baby: Cold season can trigger ssthma attacks

104 views · Published 6 January 2015 · 2:00 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City · 2015 · News & Politics

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(KUTV) A stuffy nose or cough can be annoying to most people this time of year. However, for some kids, even a small cold can trigger a nasty asthma attack. Dennis Nelson, 9, and his mother Jennifer know this very well. Dennis has had asthma for most of his life. Medications can usually control it. Recently, an asthma attack sent Dennis to the pediatric unit at Riverton Hospital. We went to the pediatrician and he wasnt getting any better, said Jennifer. He did 4 treatments and it didnt get any better.Doctors say they expect to see more kids with asthma in the hospital in the coming months. Usually, asthma attacks in kids are usually triggered by viral illness, said Dr. Jeff VanBlarcom, a pediatric hospitalist at Riverton Hospital. Anytime there is a particular type of cold virus going around, we do see asthmatics come in because of that.Doctor VanBlarcom says the bodys immune response to the virus is often what can trigger the attack. When your body is trying to fight off those things, it tends to go a little too far and produces symptoms of an asthma attack. Asthma attack symptoms can include: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or very rapid breathing; wheezing; coughing that wont stop; chest pain or pressure.One way to keep kids healthy during the cold and flu season is to try and prevent the spread of germs. Be sure your kids are washing their hands regularly. If they havent already, be sure they get their flu shot. _____(Copyright 2014 Sinclair Broadcast Group)

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