Asthma Action Plan - Health Tips

To maintain and control your child’s asthma, it’s important to create an asthma action plan with your doctor. This plan will not only provide you with the information you need to help manage your child’s asthma but also how to handle an attack if it happens.

Asthma symptoms can vary from child to child, which is why it’s important to create your child’s asthma action plan with their allergist or asthma specialist. After all, this action plan is individualized to your child’s health, symptoms, and needs. You should also monitor and record your child’s symptoms regularly.

The plan should include:

• What triggers your child’s symptoms
• The specific names and dosages of the medications your child is taking
• Regular peak flow monitoring and measurements (this can indicate whether your child’s asthma is getting worse or being properly controlled)
• Which medications your child should take and when, particularly when experiencing a flare-up
• The name of your asthma doctor, as well as the local hospital and emergency contacts for your child

Provide a copy of this action plan to your child’s teachers or the school nurses so if your child does develop symptoms of an attack, they understand exactly what to do. Even if your child is taking medication you should still be tracking any symptoms they may experience. Signs that their asthma isn’t being properly controlled include:

• Regular daytime chest tightness or wheezing
• Trouble engaging in physical activity
• Increased nighttime problems such as coughing

Having a clear and detailed asthma action plan will also provide you with the steps that you or someone else will need to go through when your child is faced with a severe asthma attack or requires emergency medical attention.