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Asthma and Children

Explaining Asthma to Your Child

When your child is young, it can be hard to explain what asthma is. There are tips to make this job a little easier. Always use pictures to help you explain, and ask your doctor for pictures if you do not have any. Your child will have his or her own specific asthma triggers, and you will need to use your child’s own asthma triggers when you explain what asthma is.

Asthma Action Plan

Asthma action plans tell you what to do in case of an asthma attack or when symptoms get worse. Doctors work with patients or their parents to create an asthma action plan. An asthma action plan can help you see how severe an asthma attack is and which treatment is appropriate.

To see what an asthma action plan looks like, click here for this one from the National Institutes of Health.

Questions to Ask Your Child’s Doctor About Asthma

If your child has asthma, you might have many questions. You might worry about the health risks. Your child’s doctor is a good resource for all your questions about asthma in children. It is easy to forget the important things when you are in the doctor’s office.

Here is a list of important questions to ask about asthma in children:

  • What does it mean that my child has asthma?
  • What changes should I make at home to control my child’s asthma symptoms?
  • Does my child need allergy testing?
  • What asthma drugs will my child need and why?
  • Is it safe for my child to play sports?
  • Can my child get a pet — or can we keep the pet we already own?
  • What should I expect from treatment for my child?
  • How should I talk to my child about asthma?
  • How should I talk to people at my child’s school about asthma?
  • How can I protect my child from feeling different because of asthma?
  • What are the signs of an asthma emergency in children?
  • In addition to my healthcare plan, Absolute Total Care, where else can I find support for and information on asthma?

What Can You Do to Help Control Your Child’s Asthma?

  • Identify things that can cause your child to have an asthma attack.
  • Know when an asthma attack is occurring soon enough to prevent serious complications.
  • Make sure your child is taking the medication that his or her doctor has prescribed and make sure the medication is being given properly.
  • See you child’s doctor regularly for treatment.


For more information and support, please call Project Breathe Easy:

Phone: 1-800-578-8750
Email: pbe@familyconnections.org
Website: http://www.familyconnectionsc.org/project-breathe-easy/