When it comes to getting the kids back to school, there’s seemingly no end to the preparations that need to be made. New school clothes, school supplies, new schedules, and proper vaccinations and school sports physicals all need to be considered prior to the beginning of any school year. As your preferred San Antonio pediatrician, we also recommend having your child checked for pediatric asthma and pediatric ADHD before these two common issues make for a difficult school year.
Let’s Begin With Pediatric Asthma
At Parsi Pediatrics, our San Antonio pediatricians have helped and treated numerous children and teens with pediatric asthma. As a parent, the first step to managing your child’s asthma is to determine if this is, in fact, what they are suffering from. The following are the signs and symptoms of pediatric asthma:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing when breathing
- Complaints of a tightness or pressure in their chest
- A chronic and persistent cough that gets worse at night
- Being easily winded and out of breath during physical activity
- Fatigue, particularly if these symptoms keep a child up at night
If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, a visit to their San Antonio pediatrician is imperative. Our San Antonio pediatric services will provide a proper diagnosis as well as a plan of action to treat your child.
Pediatric asthma treatment options vary and include two types of medications that will control the asthma symptoms to help prevent an attack. To manage the symptoms, your San Antonio pediatrician will most likely recommend a daily, long-term medication that will reduce inflammation in the airways to lessen symptoms. In the event that your child feels the symptoms of an attack coming on, a fast-acting medication will be prescribed that can prevent a full-blown attack by targeting the early warning signs.
Next, Pediatric ADHD
Pediatric ADHD is a common affliction that affects millions of children and teens every year. According to the CDC, since 2011 around 6.4 million children between the ages of four and 17 have been diagnosed with pediatric ADHD. So, how do you know if your child is experiencing this issue?
Pediatric ADHD can be difficult to spot in children as it’s not unusual for a child to be filled with energy, not want to sit still, or not want to listen to what a parent or a teacher has to say. While completely normal, there are signs that this behavior is beyond that of a kid being a kid and may actually be the result of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These signs include:
- Being inattentive and becoming easily distracted
- Being extremely hyperactive or displaying a temper
- Being impulsive or showing sudden angry outbursts
Beyond affecting their schooling, pediatric ADHD can also affect their home and personal life. When these symptoms begin to affect their overall quality of life, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your San Antonio pediatrician.
Our San Antonio pediatrics team specializes and are highly-trained in diagnosing and treating both pediatric asthma and pediatric ADHD. If your child is exhibiting signs of either or both, contact our office at 210.561.1551 to schedule an appointment, and set your child up for a successful school year.
