India, Aug. 31 -- Asthma in children remains a common problem and many myths need to be busted about the most appropriate treatment. In today's guest column, reputed Pediatric Pulmonologist, Dr SK Kabra addresses Asthma in Children. My 6-year-old daughter gets frequent colds and coughs along with breathing difficulty, sometimes with fever. She requires frequent visits to a child specialist and has been hospitalised once. She gets medicines by nebuliser with relief in her symptoms, but symptoms recur. I am very stressed about this diagnosis. Please guide me on what to do. Asthma is a common problem affecting 3-15% of school-going children. Frequent cold cough, whistling sounds in the chest and if these occur with a change of weather, more at night and increase with exertion as indicated by easy fatiguability during outdoor play and if other family members have similar problems or some allergies, including dust allergy or eczema, it may be asthma. It can be confirmed by doing a pulmonary function test in children above 5-7 years of age. Allergy tests do not help in the diagnosis of asthma. As of now there is no cure, but it can be controlled with general measures along with medicines in the majority. Good control is similar to a cure. Management of asthma includes general environmental control with medications. General measures include no smoking by household members; minimum articles in the household that attract dust (heavy curtains, carpets, wall hangings, stuffed toys, etc.) or their periodic cleaning; and trying to do gentle dusting or going for wet mopping instead of dry sweeping. Allergy to food is very rare to cause asthma-like symptoms; therefore, there is no blind restriction of food, including milk, curd, bananas, etc. There are two types of medicines: one that prevents further attacks and includes small doses of inhaled steroids. These are given by inhalers for prolonged periods and are safe if given properly. The other type of medicine is called a reliever, given when a child gets a cough and/or wheeze. Administration of medicines by inhalers provides quick relief with no significant side effects, as these are given in very small doses. These do not cause any addiction. These should be used as a first line rather than a last resort. Doctors check the child periodically and, if satisfied that the child's symptoms are controlled on medicines for 12-16 weeks, may step down treatment. After each visit (every 12-16 weeks), medicines are reduced to keep the child in remission (controlled state) for at least 12 months before stopping. Reliever medicines are needed for relief of symptoms and are given as inhalers when a child gets a cold/cough and can be given as per the prescription of a doctor and stopped after symptoms are controlled. Regular treatment and follow-up with a doctor are the mainstays of successful control of asthma. Follow the instructions and clarify doubts, if any, by discussion with the doctor. Treatment prescribed in modern medicine is based on research. Before switching to an alternative system of medicine, it is better to check the evidence to support the claims. Dr Anupam Sibal is a leading Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist with over three decades of experience and five books to his credit, including Is Your Child Ready to face the World?...