A parents guide to asthma

7) What happens to the lungs in asthma?

When a child with asthma comes into contact with something they are allergic to, or something that irritates the lining of their airways (a trigger) the airways become narrower making it more difficult to breathe.

  • The muscles in the airways tighten, this is know as bronchospasm.
  • The lining of the airways becomes swollen (inflamed) and sticky mucus (phlegm) may be produced.
  • This leads to asthma symptoms that may vary from person to person.

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