Is It Possible To Reduce The Number Of Asthma Attacks My Child Has?
Yes, you can start by creating a partnership of care for children with asthma.
Asthma Team members can include the following: you and your child, the asthma/allergy doctor, pharmacist, school nurse, and teachers.
Your child’s asthma team can work together to help reduce the number of asthma attacks your child experiences.
What are key points that will need attention?
- Understand how the lungs work and how asthma changes the lungs
- Identify Early Warning signs or body clues and why these are happening
- Learn your child’s triggers and how to avoid, reduce or eliminate each one
- Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about the purpose of each medication
- Understand how the medication is delivered to the lungs
- Include a spacer in the management of your child’s asthma if appropriate
- Create an asthma action plan and share it with those who care for your child
- Explore how to manage the home and school environment to reduce episodes
Contact Breathe Pennsylvania to receive your free Asthma Action Workbook or to speak with a Certified Asthma Educator to help you get started.
Can Allergies Affect Children With Asthma?
Yes, allergies need to be considered when working on an asthma action plan. Approximately 60% of individuals with asthma are triggered by an allergen. Allergens can include cockroaches, dust mites, mold, animal dander, and pollen. These allergens can trigger an asthma attack.
Allergies can enter the body by being swallowed, inhaled, injected, or touched. When asthma is also present it is often referred to as allergic-asthma or allergy-induced asthma.
The chemicals released by your immune system can cause allergy symptoms of a running nose, nasal congestion, skin reactions or itching eyes and can also affect the lungs leading to asthma attacks.
There are treatments today that can help support the management of both asthma and allergies which includes: allergy shots, leukotriene modifiers and IgE therapy.
Identify your child’s asthma and allergy triggers at home and at school and find ways to avoid, reduce and/or eliminate exposure.
For additional information on asthma and allergies visit Allergic Asthma | AAFA.org
If you have any additional questions regarding asthma feel free to submit them to info@breathepa.org.