Asthma action plan

There are many things to think about and plan for when your young child has asthma. It is important to learn as much as you can about the condition. Your doctor and pharmacist are there to help you.

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways that causes episodes of reversible airway constriction and sensitivity that make breathing difficult and can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest^.

Causes

No-one really knows what causes asthma, but we do know there are links to both genetics (your family history) and the environment. We also know some of the factors that contribute to someone developing asthma early in life.

Factors contributing to development of asthma

• Genetic factors are involved
• Having a parent with asthma, eczema or hay fever increases a child’s risk of developing asthma
• Obesity increases the risk of developing asthma
• More boys have asthma than girls. This may be due to young boys having smaller lungs than girls
• Smoking during pregnancy can damage a baby’s lungs and lead to respiratory illness
• Children of mums who smoke are four times more likely to wheeze
• Infants who are breast-fed are less likely to wheeze than those who have cow or soy milk or formula
• Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke have more chest infections
• Children who have respiratory infections when they are infants may be up to 40% more likely to develop asthma
• Indoor and outdoor air pollution may make asthma symptoms worse although it is not clear whether pollution causes asthma
• Modern diets may have contributed to the higher levels of asthma and allergy. This could be due to factors such as an increase in processed foods and polyunsaturated fatty acid from margarine and vegetable oil, and a reduction in antioxidants from fresh fruit and vegetables and lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid from oily fish.
   

What you need to know about your child’s asthma

To manage your child’s asthma effectively, you should know:

• The pattern of asthma – some children have only mild, occasional episodes or only show symptoms after exercising, with no symptoms between episodes. Some experience daily symptoms, while others have symptoms continuously, which limit their physical activity. Each pattern of asthma requires a different treatment approach.
• The risk of a severe attack – an important point to remember is that children can have a severe and even life-threatening attack, even though they have mild or occasional asthma.
• Your child’s triggers – every child’s asthma is different. Your child will probably have several asthma triggers, and they can be very different from another child. Triggers cause inflammation or swelling in the airways and make asthma worse. The most common trigger is a viral infection, usually a simple cold. Find out what triggers make your child’s asthma worse so you can avoid them.
• Your child’s asthma symptoms – some of the common symptoms and signs include coughing (particularly at night), wheezing, shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the chest, or difficulty breathing (a ‘sore tummy’). Your child may have all of these symptoms or just a few.
• Your child’s asthma medications – learn what the different types of medications do and make sure your child takes them properly.
• What to do if your child has an asthma attack – know the Asthma First Aid.
  
  

Asthma Action Plan

An Asthma Action Plan is a clear, concise written summary of your child’s asthma management, which needs to be reviewed regularly. Everyone with asthma should have a personalised asthma action plan written by their doctor.

An Asthma Action Plan outlines:

• How to care for day-to-day asthma (it lists your child’s regular medications and how often they should take them)
• Key things to recognise when your child’s asthma is getting worse or an ‘attack’ is developing, and the steps you should take to manage it
• Symptoms that are serious enough to need urgent medical help (with emergency information on what to do if your child has an asthma ‘attack’).
  

The Asthma Action Plan is an important tool for anyone caring for your child. A copy of the action plan should be sent to school, kindergarten, childcare centre, grandparents, other relatives or to anyone caring for your child.

What the children’s service needs to know

To assist childcare and preschool workers in the care of your child with asthma, you should:

• Tell them that your child has asthma (even if it is mild or occasional).
• Give them a copy of your child’s Asthma Action Plan.
• Provide emergency numbers and the name of your child’s doctor.
• Give them written authorisation to administer asthma medication to your child.
• Show them how to use the medication devices like pumps, spacers and puffers.
• Make sure your child has an up-to-date supply of medication at the centre.
• Notify them if your child’s asthma changes.
• Tell the staff about any concerns you may have.