Asthma in Children

your child's asthma

 

  • Most children with asthma can be completely well. However some children will have trouble sleeping due to coughing or asthma attacks or find some sports difficult. It is important to know as much as possible about your child's asthma so that it has the least possible impact on their life.

Asthma at school

 

  • Discuss your child’s asthma with the teacher. Explain how they can prevent or recognise symptoms and supervise the treatment of asthma attacks early.
  • Ensure that the school has your written permission to give reliever medicine in an emergency.
  • Keep your contact phone numbers up to date in school records.

One in four kids experiences asthma symptoms

Across New Zealand 550,000 school days are lost every year due to asthma. Asthma symptoms stop for many children by early adulthood, however children with severe asthma are less likely to grow out of it.

Wheezing in infants

One third of all children under one year old will have episodes of wheezing and coughing, however most will not experience these symptoms after the age of three. It is often very difficult to pick out the infants with asthma from the rest as there is no "asthma test" available. The diagnosis of asthma may remain uncertain for many months.

How do I know if my child has asthma?

Some signs of asthma in children are: Airways

  • coughing, particularly at night and after exercise
  • breathlessness, often with wheeze
  • a tight feeling in the chest

Your doctor, nurse or asthma educator can show you how to fill in a Child Asthma Symptom Diary. The information obtained from this over several weeks will help clarify whether your child has asthma.

When asthma is getting worse, there may be an increase in symptoms, night waking, an increase in the Symptom Diary's 'Asthma Symptom Score,' or the child's reliever might be used with less and less effect.

Once the child reaches about six years, they can use a peak flow meter. Blowing into one of these measures how well the lungs are working. Peak flow meters are available free of charge from the doctor.

What kind of inhaler should my child use?

Medicines used by pre-school children with asthma are no different from those used by older children. Click here to learn more about asthma medicines.

The most effective way of treating asthma is by delivering the medicine directly to the lungs through an inhaler. The type of device used must suit the child's age and ability. Your doctor, nurse or asthma educator will explain your choices. Here is a general guide only:

Age 0-3 years: A spacer device with a small mask may be used with medicines delivered by a Metered dose inhaler (MDI). The medicine remains suspended in the spacer for 15-30 seconds, allowing time for the child to take it in while taking six normal breaths. It is quite common for children to object to having a mask placed on their face, but be reassured - most children adapt in time.

3-5 years: At about two and a half years a mouthpiece can replaced the mask. Liquid medicines may be used, but these are slower acting with more side effects.

5 years+: Children in this age group can continue to use spacers (without a mask) and the powder medicine devices - Accuhaler, Spinhaler, Turbuhaler.

12 years+: There is no need to change medicine or device unless there is a problem. The breath-activated Autohaler can now be used.

At all ages checks need to be made to see that the inhaler device is used properly and that the lowest dose is used to achieve good asthma control. Your doctor or asthma educator can offer you tips, if you have problems giving your child inhalers.

What can be done during an attack?

It is important to recognise and treat worsening asthma as early as possible.

Mild symptoms might be: slight wheeze, mild cough, symptoms when excited or running, needing to take reliever.

In a moderate episode, symptoms might include obvious breathing difficulty, persistent cough and only able to speak in short sentences. Use the reliever (blue inhaler) for immediate relief. You can use up to 6 puffs/doses of a blue inhaler at this time. Use a spacer for an aerosol inhaler if available (one puff at a time in spacer and child to take 6 breaths).

If your child is not improving after 6 minutes call the ambulance. Continue to use the reliever (blue inhaler) every 6 minutes until help arrives.

Your Child Asthma Plan will remind you what to do. This covers what to do if your child's asthma is getting worse, when to call the doctor and what to do in an emergency.