What If My Child Has Asthma?
May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Even with very young children, the goal of asthma care is the same as for adults: to maintain good control of your child's asthma, using the smallest amount of medication. At Preferred Care, we want to make it easier for you as a parent to help manage your child's asthma and lead a healthier life.

If your child's asthma is under good control, he or she should be able to:

• Sleep well every night.
• Go to school every day (if of school age).
• Be free from wheezing all day.
• Have coughing under good control.
• Engage in activities and exercise.
• Tolerate medicines well.

What can I do to help my child with asthma?

If your child has asthma, it is very important that you follow the recommendations that are in your child's asthma action plan. You should understand what triggers an asthma attack and try to avoid the following:

• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Cigarette smoke
• Molds
• Cockroaches
• Food additives
• Viral infections
• Aspirin
• Changes in the weather
• Exposure to cold air
• Emotional upset
• Exercise

Be aware of signs that your child's asthma may be worsening, such as:

• Increasing shortness of breath.
• Increasing coughing or wheezing.
• A sense of tightness in the lungs.
• Worsening performance on peak meters.
• Inability to perform daily activities or exercise.

Finally, if your child's physician recommends it, have a prescription filled for oral corticosteroid medication (steroid liquid or steroid pills which can be crushed and added to foods the child is not allergic to such as chocolate syrup or jam), and keep it handy in case of an emergency.

For more information:

•  Learn more about Asthma in Preferred Care's online Health Encyclopedia.

•  Visit the special Asthma and Children topic in our Health Encyclopedia.

Source: Rochester Community Practice Guideline.
Posted: May 2005