Teach Your Child to Manage Asthma

The Importance of Using Peak Flow and an Asthma Plan

May 6, 2009 Jacqueline Trovato

The main goal for parents is to prepare their children for adult life. But you, as a parent of a child with asthma, have an added responsibility.

Teaching your child about asthma management if of key importance to controlling asthma flares. You may have received advice about your child’s asthma from a variety of people and sources. You know your child better than anyone else does, and only you will know the best strategies for teaching your child asthma management skills. However, the following are some important guidelines for you to consider.

Your Child’s Needs an Asthma Management Plan and Action Plan

Controlling asthma requires teamwork between you, your child, your child’s doctor and those people who are part of your child’s day-to-day life. Ask your doctor to help by developing an individualized asthma management planand anaction planfor your child These plans are detailed sets of written instructions that you and your child can follow.

As part of an individualized asthma management planyou should teach your child to:

• Avoid what brings on asthma episodes.
• Use a peak flow meter and record readings.
• Keep an asthma symptom diary.
• Communicate with his or her doctor.

You should also talk to people in your child’s daily life about the need for your child to avoid asthma triggers.

An action plan gives you and your child steps to follow when asthma symptoms occur. As part of this plan, your child should learn to:

• Recognize and tell you if early-warning signs of asthma occur.
• Understand the importance of taking asthma medications as prescribed.
• Know when to tell you that asthma medications are running low.
• Know how and when these medications are taken.
• Know what to do and what medications to take when asthma occurs.

Teach Your Child to Take and Record Peak Flow Measurements

Peak flow meters are a helpful tool to use for children with asthma. Older children can be taught to take and record their own peak flow measurements in their symptom diary. It can often be difficult to tell when your child’s asthma is getting worse. Many children won’t complain about their breathing problems until their asthma has gotten out of control. By having your child take his peak flow readings, you’ll be able to tell if your child’s breathing is getting worse many times before symptoms present.

Start Teaching When Your Child is Young

It is never too early to teach your child about asthma control. Teaching your child to manage asthma now will prepare him or her for being away from home, being in school, participating in outside activities and staying overnight with friends or family. In most cases, when asthma management skills are taught at an early age, controlling asthma as your child grows older becomes much easier. Remember, the asthma management skills you teach now will build the foundation your child needs to grow into a healthy, happy adult.

Online Resources

The American College of Allergy and Immunology

www.acaai.org/public

One Minute Asthma/Pedipress

The copyright of the article Teach Your Child to Manage Asthma in General Medicine is owned by Jacqueline Trovato. Permission to republish Teach Your Child to Manage Asthma in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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