Consumer Information

Asthma In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Asthma is a long-term condition of inflammation (irritation, redness, and swelling) in the airways of the lungs. The airways are small tubes where air passes through to go in and out of your child's lungs. An asthma attack (episode of asthma) usually happens after your child is exposed to triggers. Triggers are things that may cause your child's airways to react by getting smaller and becoming inflamed. Being around pets, dust, or smoke, or playing too hard are some things that may trigger asthma attacks. During an asthma attack your child's airways tighten, make too much mucus, and swell even more. A very bad asthma attack is known as an asthma exacerbation (eg-zas-er BAY-shun). With these attacks, your child's symptoms last longer and are more serious.
Coughing, trouble breathing, and wheezing are the most common signs and symptoms of asthma. Your child may have a hard time doing physical activities. To find out if your child has asthma, his caregiver will ask about his symptoms and examine him. His caregiver may do tests for peak flow, pulmonary function, allergy and imaging tests. Your child's caregivers will teach you about your child's asthma, including how to control and treat it. They will give your child asthma medicines and teach him when and how to use them. Your child's medicines may be changed if his symptoms get better or worse. There is no cure for asthma, but the condition can be controlled and asthma attacks can be prevented.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

RISKS:

Medicines for asthma can cause unwanted side effects. Medicines may make your child dizzy and increase his heartbeats. Some medicines, such as steroids, can make him gain weight and can cause skin problems, such as acne. Your child may also be at risk of getting mouth infections, sore throat, hoarseness, and a hacking cough.
Your child's asthma may get worse if it is left untreated or is not well controlled. He may have trouble doing his usual activities and miss many days of school. Your child may begin to have asthma attacks that come more often and last longer. He may get a very bad attack and need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. If your child's airways get too tight and swollen, he may not get enough oxygen to his body. This may cause damage to his organs such as the heart and brain, and may cause death. Ask your child's caregiver if you have questions about your child's condition, medicines, or treatments.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your child's health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your child's condition. Your child's caregiver should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives your child's caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to your child. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen to your child.

IV: An IV is a tiny tube placed in your child's vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Medicines: Your child may need any of the following:

Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help your child fight an infection caused by a germ called bacteria.
Bronchodilators: Bronchodilators may be given to help open the air passages in your child's lungs to help him breathe easier.
Leukotriene inhibitors: These medicines can decrease the swelling in your child’s lungs. They may stop your child from having more wheezing or shortness of breath. They may also prevent your child’s attacks from lasting for long periods.
Mast cell stabilizers: Mast cells are found in the smaller tubes in your child’s lungs. They are in charge of releasing some chemicals that can cause your child’s airways to narrow. This kind of medicine may help prevent your child’s lungs from having more swelling.
Steroid medicines: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease swelling and tightness in your child's airways. This helps him breathe easier. Your child may need higher doses of steroids if he has very bad asthma attacks.

Tests and monitoring:

Blood gases: These tests are also called arterial blood gases (ABGs). Blood is taken from an artery usually in your child's wrist. ABGs may be done if your child has trouble breathing or other problems caused by his illness.
Blood tests: Your child may need blood taken for tests. The blood may be taken from your child's arm, hand, finger, foot, heel, or IV. Blood tests can give caregivers more information about your child's health condition. Your child may need to have blood drawn more than once.
Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your child's lungs and heart. Caregivers use it to see how your child's lungs and heart are doing. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection (such as pneumonia) or other problems.
Heart monitor: This is also called an ECG, electrocardiogram, or telemetry. Three or five sticky pads are placed on your child's chest. Each pad has a wire leading to a TV-type screen or to a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen or box shows a picture of your child's heartbeat. Caregivers watch this picture to make sure your child's heart is doing OK.
Pulmonary function tests: These tests, also called PFTs, help your child's caregiver learn how well your child's lungs work. PFTs may also help your child's caregiver choose the best treatment for him. Your child may be given this test when he is old enough and can follow instructions. During the tests, your child will breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine. The machine measures how much air he breathes in and out over a certain period of time. This helps your child's caregiver to see how well your child's lungs are moving and working.
Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells caregivers how much oxygen is in your child's blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your child's foot, toe, hand, finger, or earlobe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Tell a caregiver if the sticky strip or clip comes off of your child. The machine will alarm if the machine cannot read the oxygen level or if your child needs more oxygen. Tell a caregiver if the machine is alarming. Never turn the pulse oximeter off.
Vital signs: This includes taking your child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting his heartbeat), and respirations (counting his breaths). To take your child's blood pressure, a cuff is put on his arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your child's blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your child's heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your child's vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how he is doing.

Treatment options:

Breathing treatments: Your child may need breathing treatments to help open his airways so he can breathe easier. A machine may be used to help your child breathe in medicine. A caregiver helps your child with these treatments.
Oxygen: Your child may need oxygen to help him breathe easier. Your child may need a nasal cannula (small tubes placed in the nose) or mask. Many children do not like having these on their face, so caregivers may place the mask next to your child's face. Some children are placed in an oxygen tent or plastic hood. Do not take off your child's oxygen without asking your child's caregiver first.
ET tube: Your child may need an endotracheal (ET) tube to help him breathe. An ET tube is put in your child's mouth or nose, and goes into the trachea (windpipe). It may be connected to a breathing machine called a ventilator. The ET tube will be taken out when your child is breathing better.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page

	Search:
Browse all medications A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z	Advanced Search