What you can do:

• Work closely with your doctor to determine the best combination of medications for your child as this will vary for different people and may change over time. The easiest to use and most popular medications are aerosol inhalers that contain medications that both decrease inflammation and swelling and stop the narrowing of airways.
• Triggers should be identified, then eliminated or avoided. If this is not possible, anticipate exposure and act accordingly. For instance, if an asthma attack is usually brought on by exercise, medication can be used before beginning exercise to reduce the effect. (Oral asthma medicines should be taken about 90 minutes prior to exercise, or 10-30 minutes prior with an inhaler). If caused by animal dander, pets should be given away or, at the least, kept outdoors.
• Change air conditioning and heating filters routinely. Consider an additional air-filtering unit if necessary.
• DO NOT smoke.

What to do when an attack occurs:

• Always keep asthma medicine close by, at home but also in the car, at school, in your purse, etc.
• Start medicine at the first sign (cough, itch, wheezing) of an attack. The longer you wait to begin, the longer it will take to stop wheezing.
• During a mild attack, your child can go to school but should avoid physical activity (PE).
• Fluids keep mucus thin; so encourage drinking one glass of fluid every 2 hours while awake (1/2 glass under age 5). Warm fluids may help.

What you can expect:

• Some children with asthma will outgrow it, although for some people it gets worse as they get older.

Contact your doctor within 24 hours if your child has poor fluid intake, congested sinuses or yellow nasal discharge, vomiting or stomach pain from theophylline medicine; if getting worse or if attack lasts longer than 5 days.

Seek immediate medical assistance if extreme shortness of breath, severe wheezing, or wheezing is no better after 2nd dose of medicine; if unable to sleep or speak, lips or nails turn dusky or blue, chest or neck pain occurs, or if medicine is vomited! This could indicate a life-threatening emergency!