It’s hard to see your child sick. The good news is that you can help your child gain control over asthma. That means fewer days out of school and fewer attacks that can be scary for you and your child.
Along with the doctor, you have an important role in helping your child control asthma. We congratulate you for reading this article’
Be aware of your child’s warning signs
Often your child may show warning signs. Warning signs are clues that your child’s asthma may be getting worse.
A very young child may not be able to tell you how he or she feels. So you may have to watch a younger child more closely to find out if something is wrong.
How will I know if asthma is getting worse?
Learn your child’s warning signs and catch an attack before it gets worse. While warning signs differ from child to child, parents report some common signs.
Think about the last time your child had an asthma attack. On the next page, check off the signs you noticed before the attack. Be sure to go over this checklist with your child’s doctor.
Emergency Warning Signs
There are times when you need to take your child to the hospital or urgent care right away.
Ask your child’s doctor what emergency signs to look for to help you know when your child is having a medical emergency with asthma.
Some parents know their child is having a medical emergency with asthma if he or she:
- Is breathing in a different way: faster, or slower, or more shallow than usual.
- Is coughing or wheezing and can’t stop.
- Has bluish fingernails or lips
Make an asthma action plan
The action plan looks at what triggers or brings on your child’s asthma. The plan also includes your child’s daily medicine needs. And the plan lists rescue medicines for quick-relief during an attack or when asthma signs start.
Work with your child’s doctor and come up with a written action plan for managing your child’s asthma.
- Share the asthma action plan with your child’s school, teachers, babysitters, and family members.
- Talk it over with people in your child’s life. In case of an asthma attack they will know what to do.
While asthma action plans may differ from doctor to doctor, most plans will address two areas: a daily program and a rescue program.
Follow the action plan. It can help lower the number of asthma attacks. Talk to your child’s doctor if you need to make changes in the plan.
The action plan’s daily program may list:
- Your child’s asthma triggers
- Daily medicines and how to use them
- Peak flow meter chart
The action plan’s rescue program may list:
- Your child’s warning signs
- Your child’s peak flow meter readings
- Names of the rescue medicines used to treat asthma as an asthma attack gets worse
- Steps to take if your child has an asthma attack and when to call the doctor
- Emergency numbers and when to take your child to the emergency room
Learn what may trigger your child’s asthma
As we said above, triggers are the things that can start your child’s asthma attack or make it worse. Your child may have just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers.
- For some kids, being around pets or dust can trigger asthma.
- Some kids find their asthma gets worse from cigarette smoke.
- For other kids, running and playing may bring onan asthma attack.
Be sure to work with the doctor to identify your child’s asthma triggers.
Once you know what triggers your child’s asthma, it is important to take steps to control these triggers.
Remembering to smoke outside or keeping pests out of your home means taking action every day. The more these habits are part of your daily life, the less chance there is your child will have an asthma attack.
Outdoor Air Pollution—What You Can Do:
When the AQI reports unhealthy levels (orange, red or purple):
- Have your child play outdoors at times when the air quality is better. In the summer, this may be in the morning.
- Limit outdoor games that involve running hard for a long time.
Pay attention to your child’s asthma warning signs. If you start to see signs, limit outdoor activity. Be sure to talk about this with your child’s doctor.
A Note About Chemical Irritants
Chemical irritants found in some products in your house may make your child’s asthma worse. Your child’s asthma may be worse around scented or unscented products, including cleaners, paints, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetics, or air fresheners.
If you find that your child’s asthma gets worse when you use a certain product, consider trying different products. If you must use a product, then you should:
- Make sure your child is not around.
- Open windows or doors, or use an exhaust fan.
- Remember to always follow the instructions on the label
Just to Recap
- Learn all you can about your child’s warning signs.
- Ask questions. Work with your child’s doctor to come up with an asthma action plan that works for your child and your family.
- Follow the action plan. Make sure all the people who care for your child know about the plan and how to follow it.
- Read about asthma triggers.
- Learn all you can about your child’s triggers. Work with your child’s doctor to come up with
- a plan to control triggers inside your home. Teach your child how to avoid triggers outside your home.
- Make sure all the people who care for your child know your child’s triggers and how to control them.
- Talk to your child’s doctor if you have removed the triggers and your child’s asthma is not getting better.
Be sure to check out the mini series on asthma.