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Significance

• Chest pain is a sign of asthma in children caused by tissue swelling and excess fluid in the trachea, bronchial and bronchiole sacs, leading to blockages that constrict breathing.
  
  

Function

• Inflamed airways tighten as a defense response to protect the lungs, causing air to build up in the bronchial sacs, leading to feelings of suffocation associated with chest pain.
  
  

Identification

• Children may identify chest tightness as pain in the sternum area or back while inhaling and exhaling. Chest pain is accompanied by symptoms of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and dizziness.
  
  

Potential

• Chest pain indicates the potential for exercise-induced asthma, brought on by physical activity and emotionality, allergic asthma due to food or inhalant allergens or weather-induced asthma from cold-air inhalation.
  
  

Considerations

• Limiting a child's exposure to asthma triggers may reduce symptoms of chest pain, while air purifiers, vaporizers and dehumidifiers provide better air quality, relieving chest tightness while children sleep.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• The presence of chest pain, lung function exams, blood tests and skin prick allergy tests help diagnose asthma. Inhalers, nebulizer treatments, antihistamines and allergy shots treat asthma and associated chest pain.