About this topic
Asthma is a lung disease in which the airways are swollen and narrowed. This causes your child to have trouble breathing. It is good to know what causes your childs asthma so you can avoid it. These can make your child's asthma worse: ‚
- Viral illnesses
- Exercise
- Having an allergic reaction to food, drugs, or other substances
- Contact with things that can bother the lungs. These are things like smoke, dust, pollens, molds, animal hairs, or chemicals.
- Changes in the weather
- Untreated gastric reflux
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Your doctor may give you an Asthma Action Plan. This will help you know how to treat your childs asthma and what to do if your child's signs get worse. Make sure you understand the action plan. Share a copy of the action plan with daycare providers, school nurses, coaches, and others who care for your child.
- Make sure that your child takes drugs as ordered by the doctor.
- Talk to your child about the signs of asthma. Have your child tell you of any signs right away. Some signs of an asthma attack are:
- Chest feels tight or hurts
- Loud breathing or wheezing
- Fast breathing
- Using extra muscles in the neck, chest, or stomach to breathe
- Feeling short of breath or not able to catch breath
- Have your child always keep a rescue inhaler.
- Have your child rest when feeling tired.
- The doctor may give your child a peak flow meter. This is a small device that shows how well the air moves out of your lungs. Have your child use the peak flow meter often. The doctor will show you and your child how to use this device.
What follow-up care is needed?
The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Reduce swelling of the airways in the lungs. This is a quick-acting drug that will help your child breathe easier. These are your childs rescue drugs.
- Prevent an asthma attack. These are your child's controller drugs.
- Follow your child's Asthma Action Plan to know what drugs to give your child.
Will physical activity be limited?
If your childs asthma is well controlled, your child should be able to enjoy the same activities as any other child. Talk to your child's doctor if your child is having trouble breathing with play or exercise. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Constant coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Decreased lung function
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Asthma cannot be prevented. You can work to prevent asthma attacks. Here are some things that may help: ‚
- Learn about what triggers your childs asthma. Stay away from those things. Common triggers are dust and pollens; scents from candles, detergents, etc; pet hair.
- Do not smoke near your child. Do not allow others to smoke near your child. Do not smoke in the car with your child. Smoke can linger on clothes and furniture and cause breathing problems.
- If your child has a cough or cold, treat it right away. These can start an asthma attack.
- Make sure your child gets a flu shot each year.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of a very bad asthma attack. These include wheezing, confusion, being unable to talk, sweating, chest tightness, trouble breathing, bad cough, blue skin color, or using extra muscles in the neck, chest, or stomach to breathe. Go to the ER right away.
- If your child needs to use their rescue inhaler 2 to 3 times in one week.
- If it has been 15 minutes since your childs last treatment and your child is not breathing any better.
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you the difference between a rescue drug and a controller drug.
- I can tell you what I will do if it has been 15 minutes since my child's last treatment and my child is not breathing any better.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child is using a rescue inhaler 2 to 3 times in one week.
Where can I learn more?
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/asthma-asthme/children-enfants/index_e.php ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/kid/asthma_basics/what/asthma.html#cat20423 ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚