What Is Childhood Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that makes your child’s breathing tubes become swollen and tight when exposed to triggers like viruses (colds and flu).

Asthma can present with:

• Cough – more often dry, more often at night but can be all day long and can linger for weeks

• Shortness of breath – breathing fast and working harder to breathe (the tummy may come in and out when the child breathes, and the skin may suck in between the collar bones and between and under the ribs)

• Wheeze – a high pitched whistling sound (not a congested sound from the nose) There is no test to diagnose asthma under age 5. It is based on the above symptoms that reoccur when triggered.

Will my child have asthma forever?

No.

Symptoms of asthma will start during the time your child has a virus (colds and flu) or possibly around allergens (pets, pollen, etc) and sometimes with exercise.

When your child’s asthma episode is over, your child will be well with no symptoms.

Your child can experience another asthma episode if triggered again by a new virus.

Because viruses are more common in winter, asthma episodes will be more common in the winter.

Usually, children outgrow having asthma episodes when they are 6 years old.

How do I treat asthma?

At the start of a mild cough or cold:

Ventolin (blue puffer)

4 puffs every 4 hours as needed until cough or wheeze is better (usually one week)
(This puffer is a rescue medicine which opens the airways and only is needed when your child is sick with cough or wheeze)

Flovent (orange puffer)

2 puffs twice a day for 2-4 weeks
(This puffer helps with inflammation in the airways. It is a steroid. It is safe. Your child should have a drink of water after using this puffer to prevent oral thrush)

If your child is less than 6-8 years of age, a plastic tube called an aero chamber will be prescribed to help your child properly breathe into their lungs the medicine that is in the puffer.

Ask the pharmacist to demonstrate how to use the aero chamber.

Go to the emergency room immediately IF:

Your child has difficulty breathing, can’t stop coughing or looks unwell

What to do to prevent asthma episodes?

Some children will need to be on a Flovent puffer daily during the winter months. The Flovent puffer can prevent or reduce the number of asthma attacks.

The Ventolin puffer does NOT prevent the next asthma episode and is only helpful as a rescue medicine when there is cough and wheeze.

Limit exposure to viruses (cold and flu).

Wash your child’s hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before they eat. Try limiting your child from touching their nose and mouth.

Don’t smoke/vape or use marijuana in your home/car or around your kids.

Rid your house of dust (limit carpets/ heavy drapes, piles of stuffed animals or books in their bedroom).

Get a dust cover on their mattresses.