Helping Your Child Manage Asthma

Parents should make sure that the child plays an important part in managing his or her own asthma.

For example:

• Small children (even 6- and 7-year olds) should know the names of the their medications, and how the medicine helps.

• All children over the age of 4 or 5 should know what triggers their attacks, so they can avoid those triggers.

• All children over the age of 4 or 5 should understand what their symptoms mean. They should know when they need to take their medication if an attack is coming.

• Older children should be responsible for taking their medicine at the right time.

Working Out A Plan

To successfully help manage your child's asthma you, your child and the doctor should work out a written plan of action:

• Identify the triggers responsible for your child's asthma. Know how to avoid them.

• Know what medication needs to be taken, even when there are no symptoms.

• Know how to recognize the earliest warning signs of an asthma episode and what to do about it.

• Know how to use a peak flow meter to predict when an asthma attack may occur.

• To determine how well the medication is working.

• Know what to do in emergencies.

• Know when to contact your doctor.

• Find out about asthma support groups and summer asthma camp (see Additional Sources Of Information).

Both you and your child should become familiar with this plan.