You can limit the impact asthma has on your child's life by learning about asthma and learning how you can help your child follow his or her treatment plan.
Learn about asthma and see your doctor
Educate yourself and your child about asthmaEducate yourself. This questionnaire can help you and your child see what you already know about asthma and what you may need to discuss with your doctor.
See your child's doctor regularly to monitor asthma. The frequency of checkups depends on how your child's asthma is classified. Bring the asthma plan to each appointment.
Set goals that relate to your child's quality of life. Decide together what you want to be able to do. Have symptom-free nights? Be able to play soccer? Feel secure in knowing you both can deal with an asthma attack? Work with your doctor to make sure your child's goals are realistic and your child knows how to reach them.
Follow your child's action plan
The asthma action plan helps you minimize the long-term effects of asthma and describes which medicines to take every day. The action plan also contains the steps to handle asthma attacks at home. See an example of an asthma action plan.
Your child also may have an asthma diary to help manage asthma. Use it to record peak expiratory flows or symptoms, or both. Also list the triggers of asthma attacks and the medicines that your child took for quick relief.
Understand your child's barriers and solutions. What may prevent your child from following his or her plan? These may be physical barriers, such as living far from your doctor or pharmacy. Or your child may have emotional barriers, such as having undiscussed fears about the condition or unrealistic expectations. Talk with the doctor about your child's barriers, and work to find solutions.
