To many it comes as a surprise that asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children in the United States. Statistics articulate that it affects as many as 10%-12% of children and this amount is ever increasing. Even though asthma can begin at any age, children have a propensity to demonstrate initial symptoms by the age of five. A particularly frustrating circumstance for parents is the child’s inability to express the symptoms such shortness of breath or labored breathing. WebMd lists common asthma symptoms as coughing especially at night, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, pain, or pressure.

A finger oximeter is the most up-to-date addition to medical equipment developed for measuring blood oxygen levels. Quite portable, this device is powered via small electrical batteries. It is a perfect solution for relief from traditional methods of blood testing where samples are frequently necessary. Additionally, an oximeter measures changes in the blood volume of the epidermis thus helping medics track patient’s conditions regardless of the distance between the two.

According to the Medical Journal of General Practice, “pulse oximetry is frequently used in the assessment of children with asthma and wheezing due to the difficulty in subjecting children to repeated blood gas analysis.”

A portable pulse oximeter may serve as one of the most reassuring medical tools parents can possess.