Louisville, Kentucky, is no stranger to allergies or asthma, so knowing what to look for in your child is important.

Published: May 6, 2021 | Updated: May 19, 2021

Louisville, Kentucky, is no stranger to allergies or asthma, so knowing what to look for in your child is important. Louisville routinely is ranked among the most challenging cities to live with asthma by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma can be controlled with medications and treatments, but many cases go undiagnosed. The condition can be confused with colds or allergies, especially in the spring.

“Asthma attacks can be sneaky, expensive and unbearable, but they can be prevented,” said Steven Patton, D.O., family medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates – Preston. “Sadly, asthma in children often goes undiagnosed and untreated because the symptoms can be hard to recognize.”

Dr. Patton offers these tips that can help you determine if your child has asthma.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, talk to your child’s pediatrician:

• Does your child cough a lot at night or in the morning?
• Does your child wheeze or cough while exercising or playing?
• Do dust, smoke or strong odors cause your child to wheeze, cough or feel chest tightness?
• When your child has a cold, does it settle in the chest and take more than 10 days to clear up?
• Do you have to give your child cough medicine more than once a month?
• Has your child had pneumonia or bronchitis more than once in any given year?

“It’s important for you to talk to your child’s medical provider about these symptoms, and if necessary, the child can get referred to a specialist to help determine if they have asthma and what’s the best treatment,” Dr. Patton said.

Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness’ Open Airways class is held monthly to provide information about asthma, including triggers, symptoms and how to detect early warning signs. Register for an upcoming class taught by a certified American Lung Association educator at NortonChildrens.com/Classes&Events.[vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/VNCt7zQAk70″]