Childhood Asthma

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Duke Health’s pediatric asthma specialists provide age-appropriate care for children with asthma, and work to prevent and decrease the severity of attacks. Duke is home to one of North Carolina’s few high-risk pediatric asthma clinics where children with severe, hard-to-control asthma benefit from a comprehensive approach to care. We can also help when your child’s diagnosis or the trigger of their asthma is unclear. Our goal is to minimize disruptions to your child’s play, school, sports, and sleep, and to help them breathe easier.

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Tests for Childhood Asthma

Clinical Evaluation

Diagnosis of asthma starts with a careful history of your child’s symptoms, any past medical problems, environmental exposures, and family history, and examining them in the office.

Breathing Tests

If your child is old enough (around 4 or 5 years), a breathing test can help diagnose asthma. This test involves blowing forcefully into a tubelike instrument to measure the flow of air going in and out the lungs. We also have access to other breathing tests that can measure inflammation in the airway and see how your child’s airway reacts to exercise and certain aerosol sprays.

Allergy Tests

Since allergies are a common trigger of childhood asthma, allergy tests (skin and blood) can help detect which allergens may trigger a reaction.

Chest X-ray

Images may be taken of your child’s lungs. This may help rule out other causes of your child’s symptoms.

Co-Morbidity Tests

Asthma co-morbidities are conditions that make asthma harder to control, such as sleep apnea or acid reflux. If we suspect that your child may have any of those conditions, he or she may be asked to undergo tests for further evaluation.

Our Locations

Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.

Treatments for Childhood Asthma

Breathing Treatments

Our pediatric pulmonologists prescribe age-appropriate inhalers and nebulized treatments to prevent asthma attacks or make them less severe. Respiratory therapists review with you how to administer these treatments appropriately and how to clean and maintain the devices used for administration. If your child is old enough, they will be involved in the education to ensure they understand their diagnosis and treatment plan.

Oral Medications

Sometimes oral medications are prescribed to help with asthma and with conditions that are contributing to poor asthma control.

Injectable Medications

If your child’s asthma is not well controlled with inhalers and oral medications, they may qualify for biologic treatments, which are injectable medications that are administered periodically in the clinic or at home.

Environmental Control

Exposure to smoke or vaping can exacerbate asthma in children. If they’re allergic to mold, dust, or pollen, avoiding those exposures can help.

Addressing Other Conditions

Sometimes treating a child’s allergies or sleep apnea, or helping them lose weight if they are overweight, can improve their asthma.

Why Choose Duke

High-Risk Asthma Program
Duke is home to one of the region’s few multidisciplinary high-risk asthma programs, where your child can see pediatric asthma specialists including pulmonologists, allergists/immunologists, asthma educators, and respiratory therapists. We also ask about nonmedical factors that may affect your child’s health, such as social support and access to nutritious food, and we can provide you with resources to help address these needs.

Access to Clinical Trials
Your child may be eligible to participate in our clinical trials, which test new medications and therapies.

Looking Toward the Future
When the time is right, we work with your child to transition them to adult care, helping them become informed advocates for their own health.