You know your child’s asthma is well controlled if, with medication and proper treatment, your child:

• Lives an active, normal life
• Has few troublesome symptoms
• Attends school every day
• Performs daily activities without difficulty
• Has few urgent visits to the doctor, emergency department, or hospital for asthma
• Has few medication side effects

By learning about asthma and how it can be controlled, you will take an important step towards managing your child’s disease. We encourage you to work closely with your child’s asthma care team to learn all you can about asthma, how to avoid triggers, what medications to use, and how to correctly administer them. With the proper care, your child can live free of asthma symptoms and maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.

See Also

You may find this Asthma Control Test helpful in determining if your child’s asthma is properly managed.

Will My Child Outgrow Asthma?*

Once a person’s airways become sensitive, they remain that way for life. However, about 50 percent of children experience a noticeable decrease in asthma symptoms by the time they become adolescents, therefore appearing to have outgrown their asthma. About half of these children will develop symptoms again in their 30’s and/or 40’s. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whose symptoms will decrease during adolescence and whose will return later in life.

What to Do When a Child Has an Asthma Attack*

If your child is showing symptoms of an asthma attack:

• Give your child his/her reliever (bronchodilator) medicine according to the Asthma Action Plan.
• Wait 5-15 minutes. If the symptoms disappear, your child should be able to resume whatever activity he/she was doing. If symptoms persist, follow your child’s asthma action plan for further therapy. If your child fails to improve or you are not sure what action to take, call your child’s physician.
• Danger signs include: severe wheezing, severe coughing, trouble walking and/or talking, blue lips and/or blue fingernails. If any of these are present, go to the emergency department or call 911.

See Also

Instructions on how to create an Asthma Action Plan for children.

Explaining Asthma to Children

Related Topics

Children with asthma do not have to be discouraged from engaging in Sports Activities.

*copied from MedicineNet

If an infant or child is experiencing symptoms of asthma requiring treatment with a bronchodilator medication more than twice a week, most doctors recommend daily anti-inflammatory medication.

Most asthma medications that are given to adults and older children can also be prescribed to toddlers and younger children. Medications that are approved for younger children are given doses adjusted to their age and weight. Specifically, children four years and up may be prescribed the asthma inhaler Advair. Advair treats both airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Another antiinflammatory medication called Pulmicort Respules has been approved for children ages 12 months and up. In the case of inhaled medications, a different delivery device based on the child’s age and ability may be required. (Many children aren’t able to coordinate their breathing well enough to use a standard inhaler.)

How Do I Give My Child Asthma Medication?*

You will probably give your child asthma medications using a home nebulizer, also known as a breathing machine. A nebulizer delivers asthma medications, usually bronchodilators, by changing them from a liquid to a mist. Your child gets the medicine by breathing in through a facemask. These breathing treatments usually take about 10-15 minutes and are administered several times a day. Your child’s doctor will tell you how often to give your child breathing treatments, based on the severity of his or her asthma.

Your child may be able to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. A spacer is a chamber that attaches to the MDI and holds the burst of medication. Speak with your child’s doctor to see if an MDI with a spacer is right for your child.

See Also

A guide on how to use a Home Nebulizer.

A guide on how to use a Metered Dose Inhaler.

Natural Remedies for Children

See: Natural Remedies

*copied from MedicineNet

• Medical history and symptom description. Your child’s doctor will be interested in any history of breathing problems you or your child may have had, as well as a family history of asthma, allergies, a skin condition called eczema or other lung disease. It is important that you describe your child’s symptoms — cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness — in detail, including when and how often these symptoms have been occurring.
• Physical exam. During the physical examination, the doctor will listen to your child’s heart and lungs.
• Tests. Many children will also have a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Also called lung function tests, these tests measure the amount of air in the lungs and how fast it can be exhaled. The results help the doctor determine how severe the asthma is. Generally, children younger than five are unable to perform pulmonary function ests. Thus, doctors rely heavily on history, symptoms and examination in making the diagnosis.

Other tests may also be ordered to help identify particular asthma triggers. These tests may include allergy skin testing, blood tests and X-rays to determine if sinus infections or gastroesophageal reflux disease (a gastrointestinal condition that causes reflux of acid stomach contents into the esophagus or even into the lungs) is complicating asthma.

Article source: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/children

In the United States, about 20 million people have asthma; nearly nine million of them are children. Asthma can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age five. Children’s airways are smaller than those of adults, so having asthma may be especially serious for them.

Things Which Make a Child More Likely to Develop Asthma

Risk factors for developing childhood asthma include:

• Presence of allergies
• Family history of asthma and/or allergies
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Low birth weight
• Exposure to tobacco smoke before and/or after birth
• Being raised in a low-income environment
• Being male
• Being black

Why More Children are Developing Asthma

There is no clear reason as to why more children are developing asthma. Some experts suggest that children are being exposed to more allergens such as dust, air pollution, and second-hand smoke, which are all triggers of asthma. Others suggest that children are not exposed to enough childhood illnesses to build up their immune system. It may be that a failure of the immune system, where the body does not make enough protective antibodies, may be a reason for the increasing number of asthmatic children. Some even suggest that decreasing rates of breastfeeding are preventing important substances in the immune system of the mother from being passed on to babies.

How to Tell if a Child Has Asthma

Signs and symptoms to look for include:

• Frequent coughing spells (may occur during play, while laughing or at night)
• Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing in or out)
• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath or loss of breath
• Tightened neck and chest muscles
• Feelings of weakness or tiredness
• Less energy during play
• Complaint of chest tightness or chest pain
• Retractions (visible sinking of the chest wall from labored breathing)

However, not all children have the same asthma symptoms. These symptoms can vary from asthma episode to episode in the same child.

Keep in mind that not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma. For children under five years of age, the most common cause of asthma-like symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold.

If your child has problems breathing, take him/her to the doctor immediately for an evaluation.

Related Topics

• Know how asthma is Diagnosed in Children.

• Learn about available Asthma Treatments for Children (medications and natural remedies).

• Learn how to best Manage a Child with Asthma.

Having asthma can affect every facet of your daily life and eventually cause anxiety in unfamiliar situations or activities. If your asthma is properly managed, it will not prevent you from leading a healthy, active lifestyle. The following are some ways to help you control your asthma:

• Take initiative and prevent your symptoms before they start; allergy-proof your environment if need be.
• Know the early warning signs of an impending asthma attack, and what to do about them.
• Have an emergency contact list on hand, with the quickest ways to access your doctor and emergency care while at home, work, or vacation as well as relatives.
• Take regular Asthma Control Tests to see if your asthma is under control.
• Keep an Asthma Journal of your daily triggers and symptoms.
• Have an Asthma Action Plan on hand so you know what to do during various asthma situations.
• Talk to friends, family, co-workers, and especially your doctor about your asthma. The more they know about your condition the better they will be able to understand and help you.
• Know that you are not alone. There are many support groups, organizations, and forums out there devoted solely to and comprised entirely of people who share your condition and troubles.

See Also

Further Tips on how to live with asthma, with such topics as pet care, sleeping, and diet and exercise.

Real Life Stories of people living successful lives with asthma. 

Understand the Symptoms

Some common asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing (usually worse at night or early in the morning)
• Chest tightness (feeling like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest)
• Shortness of breath (feeling out of breath or feeling like you can’t get enough air into your lungs)
• Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
• Faster breathing or noisy breathing

Note the symptoms and treat them as early warning signs of a possible asthma attack.

Care-giving Tips

It’s not easy to care for a family member or friend with asthma. You may be unsure of the best way to help, and helping may mean making adjustments in your own life. The following are some tips to aid you in helping someone with asthma:

• Make sure your loved one has an Asthma Action Plan. Familiarize yourself with it so that you will know exactly what to do if needed.
• Learn about the asthma medications your loved one takes: know whether the medication is quick-relief or long-term, the correct dosage required, and the times it should be taken.
• Know what to do during an emergency and know which medication will help and how to administer it.
• If you think your loved one is having a severe episode, get medical help immediately.
• If your loved-one’s asthma is allergy-induced, allergy-proof the environment as much as possible.

Helping a Child with Asthma

See: Children with Asthma

How to Use

You use the peak flow meter by taking in a deep breath and then blowing the air out hard into the peak flow meter. The peak flow meter then gives you a peak flow number that tells you how fast you moved the air out.

You will need to find out your personal best peak flow number. You do this by recording your peak flow number every day for a few weeks until your asthma is under control. The highest number you get during that time is your personal best peak flow. Then you can compare future peak flow measurements to your personal best peak flow, and that will show if your asthma is staying under control.

Your doctor will tell you how and when to use your peak flow meter and how to use your medicine based on the results. You may be advised to use your peak flow meter each morning to keep track of how well you are breathing.

Your peak flow meter can help warn you of a possible asthma attack even before you notice symptoms. If your peak flow meter shows that your breathing is getting worse, you should follow your emergency asthma action plan. Take your quick-relief or other medicines as your doctor directed. Then you can use the peak flow meter to see how your airways are responding to the medicine.

See Also

For a step-by-step Peak Flow Meter Tutorial.

Peak Flow Meter vs Spirometer/Spirometry

A peak flow meter is a device used to measure the rate at which a person can forcefully exhale air out of the lungs. This rate is measured in peak expiratory flow (PEF), and peak flow meters can be used by a person in a home setting.

Spirometry is a term used to describe a group of pulmonary function tests. This includes measuring PEF, a test that is performed by a doctor in a hospital setting. The information gathered during these tests is useful in diagnosing certain types of lung disease like asthma.

Daily PEF monitoring is often confused with spirometry measurements. It is not meant to replace spirometry testing, but rather to reinforce spirometry by providing a daily warning system to help people manage their asthma.

*copied from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Your doctor will prescribe specific medications for you according to the severity of your asthma. In general, there are two types of medications: quick-relief medications and long-term medications. Most treatment plans use at least one medicine of each type to relieve and control asthma symptoms.

Quick-relief

Quick-relief medicines are taken at the first signs of asthma for immediate relief of symptoms. You should feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.

Everyone with asthma needs a quick-relief medicine to stop asthma symptoms before they get worse. Short-acting inhaled beta-agonists are the preferred quick-relief medicine. These medicines are bronchodilators. They act quickly to relax tightened muscles around your airways so that the airways can open up and allow more air to flow through.

You should take your quick-relief medicine when you first begin to feel asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. You should carry your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times in case of an asthma attack.

Your doctor may recommend that you take your quick-relief medicines at other times as well, such as before you exercise.

Long-term Control

Long-term control medicines are taken every day to prevent symptoms and asthma episodes or attacks. You will feel the full effects of these medicines after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.

The most effective, long-term control medicine for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid because this medicine reduces the airway swelling that makes asthma attacks more likely.

Inhaled corticosteroids (AKA steroids) are the preferred medicine for controlling mild, moderate and severe persistent asthma. They are generally safe when taken as directed by your doctor.

In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short periods of time to bring asthma under control. The tablet or liquid form may also be used to control severe asthma.

If you stop taking long-term control medicines, your asthma will likely worsen again.

Most asthma medicines are inhaled. They go directly into your lungs where they are needed. There are many kinds of inhalers, and many require different techniques. It is important to know how to use your inhaler correctly.

Natural Remedies**

There is currently no cure for asthma, natural or otherwise, but there are natural ways to treat asthma symptoms. However, because there have been few or no research studies on most types of alternative medicine for asthma, the effectiveness and safety of many are unknown.

Here are some examples of natural asthma remedies:

• Herbs and natural dietary supplements. Many different herbs, plants and supplements have been used with asthma, including Tylophora (Indian ipecac), butterbur, ephedra (ma huang), katuka, grapeseed, boswellia and dried ivy. Since none have been definitively shown to help asthma symptoms, they are generally not recommended. Ma huang (ephedra), a very common herb used in dietary supplements, has been used for years as a bronchodilator. Ephedra was recently banned by the FDA. Several studies have looked at using vitamin C supplements and omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) for asthma symptoms. There is currently not enough evidence to recommend these natural therapies.
• Yoga. Oftentimes, stress triggers asthma symptoms. But breathing exercises used in yoga have been found to help some people with asthma control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger.
• Asthma diet. Restricting dairy products and sugar has reportedly helped some children with childhood asthma.
• Acupuncture. This Chinese medicine technique uses needles on pressure points to relieve symptoms. While some people with asthma have found that acupuncture can significantly reduce asthma attacks and improve lung function, studies are not conclusive.
• Biofeedback. Learning to increase the amount of air inhaled has reduced fear and anxiety during an asthma attack for some people with asthma.

Most people think of herbs as being natural and therefore safe to take. It is important to remember that many herbs have not been thoroughly tested and the FDA does not regulate them.

It is also very important that you always inform your doctor if you are taking any herbs, dietary supplements, or other natural remedies. Some herbs may worsen your asthma or other medical condition, or they may interfere with prescribed asthma medicines you are taking.

How to Know which Natural Asthma Remedies Are Safe

Because most natural asthma remedies are not regulated, it is difficult to know what you are getting. Here are some tips to follow when considering using a natural asthma remedy:

• Talk to your doctor about any natural asthma remedy you are considering before trying it. Alternative medicine for asthma should never replace your asthma inhaler or inhaled steroids for asthma.
• If you experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea or skin rashes, stop taking the herbal product and notify your doctor.
• Avoid preparations made with more than one herb.
• Beware of commercial claims of what herbal products can do. Look for scientific-based sources of information.
• Select brands carefully. Only purchase brands that list the herb’s common and scientific name, the name and address of the manufacturer, a batch and lot number, expiration date, dosage guidelines and potential side effects.
• Always talk to your asthma doctor before taking any medication or natural dietary supplement.

*copied from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
**copied from WebMD

With proper treatment you should have your asthma controlled, be free of asthma symptoms, and have fewer asthma attacks. Also, you should not need to use quick-relief medicines as often, and you should be able to do normal activities without having symptoms.

Your doctor should work with you to develop an asthma self-management plan and an emergency Asthma Action Plan to aid you in keeping your asthma under control.

In general, you should also know:

• Your asthma triggers and how to avoid them
• Early signs that indicate your asthma is about to get worse
• How and when to use a Peak Flow Meter
• When to call your doctor
• When you should get emergency treatment

See Also

To know if your asthma is under control, take this quick Asthma Control Test.

Treating Asthma in Pregnancy*

If you are pregnant it is very important to both you and your baby to control your asthma. Uncontrolled asthma can lower the oxygen level in your blood, which means that your baby gets less oxygen too.

Most asthma medicines are generally safe to take during pregnancy. Doctors recommend that it is safer to take asthma medicines during pregnancy than to take the chance that you will have an attack.

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about your asthma and how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Treating Exercise-induced Asthma*

Regular physical activity is important for good health. If exercise brings on your asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best ways to control your asthma when you are active. Some people with asthma use inhaled, quick-relief medicines before exercising to keep symptoms under control.

If you use your asthma medicines as directed, you should be able to take part in any physical activity or sport you choose. Many Olympic athletes actually have asthma!

Treating Asthma in Older Adults*

Older adults may need to adjust their asthma treatment because of other diseases or conditions that they have. Some medicines (i.e. beta blockers used for treating high blood pressure and glaucoma, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can interfere with asthma medicines or even cause asthma attacks. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medicines that you take, including over-the-counter drugs.

Using steroids may affect bone density in adults, so ask your doctor about taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and other ways to help keep your bones strong.

Medications and Natural Remedies

See: Asthma Medications & Natural Remedies

Using a Peak Flow Meter

See: Peak Flow Meter

*copied from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website

Currently, asthma cannot be prevented, though its symptoms can be controlled to the point where a person can live a relatively normal life.

Ways to Prevent Asthma Symptoms

• Develop a written Asthma Action Plan
• Identify and avoid asthma triggers
• Identify and treat your asthma attacks early
• Monitor your breathing
• Do not change your medication program without first consulting your doctor

It is crucial that you stay on top of your asthma management. There is increasing evidence that untreated airway inflammation will lead to a long-term decrease in lung function; possibly even permanent damage. There’s also proof that if asthma is improperly treated it may get worse over time.

See Also

Ways to asthma-proof your Home.

Ways to asthma-proof your Workplace.

Ways to best Travel with asthma.