Flowers are blooming and the sun’s shining. It’s spring! That means it’s time for baseball and softball, bike rides, picnics and days at the park. While the little ones prepare to spend more time outside it’s time to focus on a disease afflicting many children: asthma.

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and Dr. Steven Thompson, pediatrician at Little Rock Children’s Clinic, helps families spot potential cases of asthma and guides them in the next steps after a diagnosis.

Asthma is a genetic tendency toward overreaction of the small airways of the lungs. This means that they swell, produce more mucus and constrict when the afflicted person is exposed to certain triggers, according to Thompson.

“One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that when your small airways are a little bit inflamed, the only symptom is a cough. A dry, hacky, tickle cough,“ Thompson said. “A lot of kids that we diagnose with asthma have never really had a wheezing bout, they just seem to cough a lot.”

If Thompson notices that a child has been to the doctor in the past with coughing as the only symptom, he considers diagnosing the child with asthma. He notes that children who wheeze aren’t always asthmatic, although many asthmatic children do wheeze. It’s important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Asthma presents in two ways: as a persistent condition that is treated with controllers and as an intermittent condition that is treated with a bronchodilator inhaler when symptoms arise. Controllers are small-dose steroids that help reduce inflammation and bronchodilators are medicines that cause the airways to relax and dilate.

When children have persistent asthma they may be sent to an allergist to help determine their triggers. Allergies are one of the most common, but are not the only trigger. Parents who smoke may trigger asthma, even if they smoke away from their children. Smells, heat and exercise can trigger asthma as well, Thompson says. Exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma that presents during physical activity.

“The number one thing parents can do is be compliant with the medication,” Thompson says. “Another thing is to have regular follow-up visits with your doctor and (find out) if there is a clear trigger, like some kids are allergic to cats. Even though you love your cats, you’ve gotta get rid of your cats. Do you love your kid more or do you love your cat more?”

According to Thompson, 30 people died in Arkansas in 2015 because of asthma, so the disease is serious and potentially life-threatening. Thompson says he has had patients die of the illness and notes that people with either persistent or intermittent asthma can die.

It’s important to keep an inhaler in the car, at home and at school to ensure any family member with asthma is prepared for an attack.