Most children’s asthma symptoms can be controlled, as long as a treatment plan has been developed. But for your child’s asthma to reach this state of control, you’ll have to become very aware of their triggers and work in unison with their doctor to determine the best treatment for your child.
How can You Tell if Your Child Has Asthma
Potential symptoms of asthma vary greatly. Some common asthma symptoms that can occur in childhood asthma are :
- Frequent coughing at play, at night or when emotional.
- Less energy while playing.
- Spells of rapid breathing.
- Complaints of chest tightness or pain.
- Hearing wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Tight neck and chest muscles.
Tests to verify that a child has asthma may not be accurate until age five.
Develop an Asthma Treatment Plan
Once you and your pediatrician develop a plan that works, be sure to have a written copy of the program. Some of the parts of an asthma action plan include:
- Following the written instructions your pediatrician gives you to the letter.
- Keeping an asthma diary. An asthma diary can help you learn more about what sets off your kid’s symptoms or worsens their breathing as well as how these attacks remain best treated at the time. Also, if the prescribed treatments aren’t working well, a diary will help you and your pediatrician decide what to do next.
- Knowing what your child’s triggers are and avoid them if at all possible. Allergy testing may be needed to identify all of your child’s allergies.
- Taking medications as your pediatrician directs. Your child may only need a rescue inhaler for quick relief. Or he or she may take several types of drugs to keep their asthma attacks at bay. A different kind of treatment may be using a nebulizer daily to prevent asthma attacks.
- Using a peak flow meter if your doctor recommends the tool. Peak flow meters can measure the amount of air going out of a person’s lungs and can tell you if he or she is having significant trouble breathing.
- Knowing what to do in case of an emergency. You can take your child to the emergency room, or your doctor may have a different plan in place for breathing emergencies.
- Getting an annual flu vaccination. The symptoms of the flu can set off asthma attacks.
- Avoid exposing your child to illness. The flu, the common cold, sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia can all increase your child’s chances of having an asthma attack.
- Always having your child’s rescue inhaler with you. You never know when he or she will be exposed to a trigger. People at school and coaches should also have access to a rescue inhaler for your child to use as needed.
