Pediatric Asthma Treatment Specialist in Tampa, FL

Pediatric asthma occurs when a child’s airways and lungs become easily inflamed from certain environmental triggers. These triggers can be caused by inhaling allergens such as pollen or dust mites, or by inhaling other irritants like smoke or certain perfumes. While pediatric asthma is not a different disease from adult asthma, children with asthma face unique challenges that adults do not have to face.

The symptoms of pediatric asthma are often intermittent, while those for adult onset asthma are typically persistent. Moreover, pediatric asthma often diminishes during puberty. Children with asthmas are also more likely to require more urgent care, emergency room, or routine medical visits than adults with asthma.

Your child might have asthma if they exhibit the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• A constant cough that is worsened by viral infections, exercise, cold air, or occurs while they are asleep
• Chest tightness or congestion
• Whistling or wheezing while breathing

If your child has asthma, they are likely to have trouble sleeping, prolonged recovery or bronchitis following a respiratory infection, difficulty with play and exercise, and general fatigue.

After medical school, pediatricians spend three years in a pediatric residency to learn about preventive, acute, and chronic illnesses that occur in children from birth up until adolescence. Consequently, pediatricians are well equipped to evaluate, diagnose, and treat childhood asthma as it is uniquely experienced by children. While other family practitioners or immunologists are also equipped to treat any case of asthma, pediatricians specialize in the treatment of childhood conditions such as pediatric asthma.

Childhood asthma does sometimes go away. However, each case is different. Some children never outgrow asthma, especially if they have severe asthma. However, in some cases it might go away completely, while for others it might temporarily go away and return later on in life. For children with pediatric asthma that also have significant allergies to furry animals and the like, it is unlikely that they will outgrow their condition.

At Julie Barriga MD PA, we accept most major insurance providers, and participate with Florida Medicaid and Healthy Kids Programs. Prior to your appointment, we recommend that you verify with your insurance provider that Julie Barriga MD PA is a participating provider for your plan, that your insurance is currently active, and also your deductible and co-payment. For a full list of all the insurance providers we accept, please visit our Insurances Accepted page.

If you live in or near Tampa, Florida, and would like to hear more about our pediatric asthma services or would like to book an appointment, we would love to hear from you! You can reach us by calling. Julie Barriga MD PA is located at 5001 East Busch Blvd in Tampa, Florida 33617. Our facility is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and also on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We are closed on Sundays. We serve patients from Tampa FL, Terrace FL, Thonotosassa FL, Lutz FL, Greater Carrollwood FL, Lake Magdalene FL, Westchase FL, and Town ‘N’ Country FL.