Lungs

Allergies happen when your child's immune system mistakenly treats normally harmless substances as 'harmful'. The substances that trigger allergies are called allergens. The symptoms of an allergy vary according to what a child or young person is allergic to. 

A breath-holding spell may happen after a child has an upset or sudden startle, such as a minor bump or a fright.

Tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) with bronchiectasis may find an action plan helpful. Talk to your child’s health professional to see if it's right for your child. The action plan lists your child's daily treatment and steps to take if they become unwell.

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease. It happens when the airways in the lungs become damaged and scarred. Once someone has bronchiectasis, they usually have it for life. Good treatment can stop it from getting worse. In very young tamariki (children) good treatment may reverse some of the disease.

School is really important for tamariki (children) with bronchiectasis. Teachers can make a significant difference.

Coughing is common in tamariki (children), especially when they are preschool age. A cough that lasts longer than 4 weeks may be a sign of more serious disease.

Croup is a viral illness in young tamariki (children) which causes narrowing of the upper airways. Croup is often a mild illness but can quickly become serious, so don't hesitate to get medical help.