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Asthma in Children 12 Years and Older: Care Instructions

Lungs in teen's chest showing location of bronchial tubes in left lung, with detail of healthy airway and inflamed airway

Your Care Instructions

Asthma makes it hard for your child to breathe. During an asthma attack, the airways swell and narrow. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening, but you can usually prevent them. Controlling asthma, treating symptoms and flare-ups before they get bad can help your child avoid bad attacks. You may also avoid future trips to the doctor.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results, including spirometry, keep a list of the medicines your child takes, and keep your child's Asthma Action Plan handy.

How can you care for your child at home?

Action plan

Make and follow an Asthma Action Plan. It lists the medicines your child takes every day and will show you what to do if your child has an attack.
Work with a doctor to make an Asthma Action Plan if your child does not have one. It's important that your child take part in writing his or her plan.
Tell adults at school that your child has asthma. Give them a copy of the Asthma Action Plan. They can help during an attack.

Medicines

Your child may take an inhaled corticosteroid every day. It keeps the airways from swelling. Make sure your child's puffers aren't empty.
Your child will take quick-relief medicine for an asthma attack. This is usually inhaled salbutamol or Symbicort. It relaxes the airways to help your child breathe.
Most children with asthma need a combination of an inhaler and a pill.
If your doctor prescribed corticosteroid pills for your child to use during an attack, give them to your child as directed. They may take hours to work, but they may shorten the attack and help your child breathe better.

Check your child's breathing

Check your child for asthma symptoms to know which step to follow in your child's action plan. Watch for things like being short of breath, having chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, turning blue, can't speak in full sentences because they're short of breath, or can't keep up with friends. Also notice if symptoms wake your child up at night or if they get tired quickly during exercise.
Ask your child's healthcare provider about regular spirometry.
If your child has a peak flow meter, use it to check how well your child is breathing. This can help you predict when an asthma attack is going to occur. Then your child can take medicine to prevent the asthma attack or make it less severe.

Keep your child away from triggers

Try to learn what triggers your child's asthma attacks, and avoid the triggers when you can. Common triggers include colds, smoke, air pollution, pollen, mould (including snow mould), pets, cockroaches, stress and other strong emotions, and cold air.
If tests show that dust is a trigger for your child's asthma, try to control house dust.
Keep the humidity of your house below 40%.
Talk to your child's doctor about whether to have your child tested for allergies.

Other care

Have your child wash their hands often to prevent infections.
Have your child drink plenty of fluids.
Encourage your child to be physically active, including playing on sports teams. If needed, using medicine right before exercise usually prevents problems.
Have your child get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine. Ask your healthcare provider if your child is up to date on their COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccines.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

Your child has severe trouble breathing.

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

Your child has an asthma attack and does not get better after you use the action plan.
Your child coughs up yellow, dark brown, or bloody mucus (sputum).

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

Your child's wheezing and coughing get worse.
Your child needs quick-relief medicine on more than 2 days a week within a month (unless it is just for exercise).
Your child has any new symptoms, such as a fever.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

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Adapted with permission from copyrighted materials from Healthwise, Incorporated (Healthwise). This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty and is not responsible or liable for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.