Christus Health: The Children's Hospital of San Antonio

Your child comes in from playing outside short of breath or wheezing. For many parents, fears of asthma spring to mind. It makes sense; the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that almost one in 10 children in the U.S. has asthma. However, a 2016 JAMA study suggests that about one-third of asthmatic patients could be misdiagnosed. "There are a few problems that come along with a misdiagnosis," says Felix Shardonofsky, M.D., chief of pediatric pulmonary medicine at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio. "People will spend money on medications they don't need, and it can cause people to avoid getting the exercise they need." Whether your child has asthma or not, exercise should never be avoided. "Exercise is essential for the development and wellbeing of a child," Dr. Shardonofsky says. "With proper management and medication, most asthmatic children can lead a normal life with the ability to take on a normal exercise capacity." Identifying Asthma So, how can you help spot the real asthma? Dr. Shardonofsky offers the following tips: • See the signs. While symptoms such as wheezing, tight chest, cough and shortness of breath can be caused by something other than asthma, it's still important to note these problems after physical activity. • Keep an open mind. Don't jump to diagnose your child with asthma without taking into consideration factors such as your child's weight and physical fitness levels. Being overweight or unfit can cause symptoms very similar to asthma. • Seek professional help. Visit your pediatrician to get his or her medical opinion. Since asthma can be tricky to diagnose in the doctor's office, your pediatrician may request an exercise test to get a clearer picture. What's in a Wheeze? If your child is displaying asthma-like symptoms during exercise, don't bench your athlete for life. Have your asthma concerns checked out. Does your child need to catch their breath? Visit findachristusdoc.org to make an appointment with a pediatrician. Felix Shardonofsky, M.D. Everything for our children.™ THE LATEST IN LABS A simple trip to your pediatrician may not be enough to accurately identify and diagnose asthma. Fortunately, The Children's Hospital of San Antonio's Cardio/Pulmonary Exercise Laboratory can help. "Our exercise lab provides us with the equipment, manpower and expertise we need to accurately measure the exercise capacity of an adult or child," says Felix Shardonofsky, M.D., chief of pediatric pulmonary medicine. "By ordering an exercise test, we can better determine the reasons behind a child's shortness of breath." With the problem identified, your child can be placed on a personalized management program to get them back to breathing easy. 10 Forever First | Fall 2017 • To find a physician, call (844) 778-KIDS.

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