Treating asthma in children requires a careful balance of understanding and avoiding asthma triggers and administering the right prescription medications. Parents with children who have asthma need to keep a careful eye on their child's symptoms to figure out what causes them, and keep a careful log to share with the doctor. It's also the parent's responsibility to notify the doctor if the medications aren't working correctly and asthma symptoms are out of control.
Step 1
Get maintenance medication. To truly treat your child's asthma, she may need regular medications that ease inflammation of the respiratory tract to prevent asthma symptoms from striking. It's also important to use these medications just as directed by your child's doctor--typically, they're needed every day, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Step 2
Have an emergency inhaler. In addition to daily maintenance medications for asthma control, your child will need an emergency or "quick relief" medication--an inhaler to use during an actual asthma attack. Remember, you shouldn't have to reach for your child's emergency asthma inhaler often if symptoms are truly under control.
Step 3
Learn triggers by keeping a diary. About half the battle when it comes to treating a child's asthma is to figure out what causes your child's symptoms. It could be strenuous play, cold weather, allergens in the air, flying pet fur or even something that he ate. Part of your role in your child's asthma treatment plan is to keep a log of your child's asthma attacks, and any events leading up to it that could have caused the symptoms.
Step 4
Avoid exposure to triggers. Once you've tracked your child's asthma triggers in a log or diary and have identified the culprits, it's time to protect your child from those triggers. For instance, if weather plays a role, encourage your child to play indoors on days when weather is cold or allergens are high. Avoid exposure to pets and keep your house clean if dust, hair or mold is to blame for your child's asthma.
Tips and Warnings
- Respiratory infections and other illnesses can make asthma symptoms worse, so seek prompt treatment for any illness to help control asthma.
- It's important to make sure that asthma is treated properly and kept under control to prevent complications, like damage to the lungs and visits to the emergency room.
Things You'll Need
- Maintenance asthma medication
- Emergency inhaler
- Diary/notebook
