According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 9 million children are diagnosed with asthma each year. Astma is a chronic condition that blocks the flow of air through the airways leading into the lungs, and it is more serious for children than adults because their airways are smaller. Although there is currently no cure for asthma, there are ways to manage the condition.
Step 1
Use a peak flow monitor. This device is able to detect a blockage in air flow before any symptoms even begin to present themselves. When the reading drops, it means your child's airway is inflamed and he is not receiving as much air as he should be. Checking and charting his peak flow two to three times a day allows you to determine what his normal peak flow is; this gives you a number to gauge his readings by, thus knowing when an asthma attack may be on the horizon.
Step 2
Monitor his symptoms. Not every child will have an asthma attack every day. Some children will cough and wheeze daily, some will only do so when exercising and yet others will experience episodes periodically through the year as the weather changes. Noting his symptoms will help your child's doctor determine what medications are best suited for his condition.
Step 3
Be consistent. Once your child has been prescribed medications, it is imperative for you to give them to her consistently. There are two types of medications prescribed for children: rescue medications for acute attacks and controller medications prescribed to prevent attacks. Regardless of whether your child has displayed any symptoms or experienced any episodes in weeks or months, you still need to give her the medication. This could be the very reason she has not had an attack.
Step 4
Make a list of his triggers. Asthma triggers are anything that can cause an attack to occur. The most common triggers include allergens such as dust, grass and pet dander, viral infections, changes in the weather and inhaled irritants such as cigarette smoke, paint fumes and hair spray. Keeping a list of things that spark your child's asthma will make it easier for you to help him avoid these triggers and prevent attacks from occurring.
Step 5
Devise an action plan. While learning to control your child's asthma you need to anticipate that she will have flare-ups. During this time it is a good idea to have a medical plan of action in place. It should include important information such as her triggers, her personal best peak flow reading, the doctor's name and number and an emergency contact name and number. It should be four pages, each one progressing from normal to danger zone, and contain what steps need to be taken during each phase to help your child manage the attack (see example in Resources).
Tips and Warnings
- Keep the rescue inhaler nearby at all times in case it is needed.
Things You'll Need
- Peak flow monitor
- Asthma action plan
