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My child has asthma. What should I do?
Learn how to manage your child's asthma at home, spot warning signs, and know when to get urgent medical help.
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What it is
Asthma is a long-term lung disease that affects the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs [10]. In asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed, which causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness [5][10]. Symptoms can be mild or severe and often come and go [5]. They may be worse at night and early in the morning [5]. An asthma attack is when symptoms become severe and it is difficult to breathe, which can be life-threatening [5].
In children, symptoms can also include rapid breathing, gasping for air, feeling tired, dark circles under the eyes, being irritable, and trouble eating or sucking in infants [8]. Asthma usually starts in children, but it can happen at any age [5]. It cannot currently be cured, but with good treatment, symptoms should not be a problem [5]. Asthma in young children sometimes goes away by the teenage years or adulthood [6].
What you can do at home
Work with your child’s healthcare provider to create a treatment plan [3]. The plan should include ways to manage symptoms and prevent attacks [3].
Things you can do to help prevent symptoms and reduce the risk of attacks:
- Always have your child’s inhaler with them [4].
- Use inhalers as recommended by your care team [4].
- Try to avoid triggers like air pollution, smoke, pollen, cold air, or animals [4][5].
- Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or car if tobacco smoke is a trigger [3].
- Keep to a healthy weight [4].
- Have vaccinations such as the flu vaccine, as viruses like flu can make asthma worse [4].
- Exercise regularly, but get advice from your doctor or nurse about exercising safely if exercise triggers symptoms [4].
Treatment plans may include short-term relief medicines (quick-relief) to stop symptoms during an attack, and control medicines to reduce airway inflammation and prevent narrowing [3]. Not all children need control medicines [3]. If inhalers are not enough, your care team may recommend a stronger inhaler or tablets like montelukast [9]. For severe asthma, injectable biological therapies may be offered [9].
If your child has an asthma attack, sit them up straight and try to keep them calm [1]. Use their reliever inhaler as prescribed. If you have a blue reliever inhaler, take 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds until they feel better, up to a maximum of 10 puffs [1]. Shake the inhaler between puffs and use a spacer if available [1]. If your child has an AIR or MART inhaler, take 1 puff every 1 to 3 minutes, up to a maximum of 6 puffs [1]. Always follow your child’s personal asthma action plan if it has a different maximum dose [1].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Call your emergency number immediately if your child is having an asthma attack and:
- Starts to feel worse at any time [1].
- Does not feel better after taking the maximum dose of their reliever inhaler [1].
- Does not have an asthma inhaler [1].
If symptoms are no better after 10 minutes and an ambulance has not arrived, use the inhaler again up to the same maximum dose [1]. Do not drive yourself to the emergency department [1]. The emergency operator will give you advice [1].
Get medical help right away if your child has warning signs of a severe attack, including severe coughing, serious breathing problems, or turning very pale or blue in the face, lips, or fingernails [8]. If a severe attack does not get better with short-term relief medicines, get medical help right away [3].
Ask your doctor for an urgent appointment if:
- You have had an asthma attack and have recovered. Even if you feel better, see a GP within 2 days to discuss treatment and prevent another attack [1].
- Your child has asthma symptoms [5].
- Treatments are not helping, you need to use the inhaler more often, or you need advice about using the inhaler [5].
- Symptoms are not improving, are stopping usual activities, or are waking your child at night [5].
Hospital treatment for a severe attack may include oxygen through a mask, nebuliser treatment with high-dose medicine, or steroid tablets or injections [2].
Common questions
Can asthma be cured? Asthma cannot currently be cured, but with good treatment, symptoms should not be a problem [5]. In young children, asthma sometimes goes away by the teenage years or adulthood [6].
What triggers asthma symptoms? Symptoms can be triggered by exercise, high levels of air pollution, cold air, or contact with allergens like pollen, dust, mould, or animals [5]. Tobacco smoke can also be a trigger [3].
How do I know if my child’s inhaler is working? If your child’s symptoms are not improving, or you need to use the inhaler more often, see a GP for advice [5]. It is important to use the inhaler correctly so the medicine works properly [7]. A doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will show you how to use it [7].
Sources
[1] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “How to treat an asthma attack”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [2] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “Hospital treatment for an asthma attack”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [3] MedlinePlus — “Asthma in Children” (2024), section “What are the treatments for asthma in children?”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/asthmainchildren.html [4] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “Things you can do to help with asthma”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [5] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “Asthma”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [6] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “How asthma affects your life”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [7] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “Asthma inhalers”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [8] MedlinePlus — “Asthma in Children” (2024), section “What are the symptoms of asthma in children?”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/asthmainchildren.html [9] NHS — “Asthma” (2024), section “Other treatments for asthma”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ [10] MedlinePlus — “Asthma in Children” (2024), section “What is asthma?”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/asthmainchildren.html
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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