Getting Your Child’s Asthma Under Control
If your child’s asthma is not under control then more than likely he/she will experience symptoms on an infrequent basis to a daily basis. It really depends on your child and his/her condition whether the symptoms will be light or very severe. There are four different ways that asthma can be classified.
Step 1-Intermittent
 Intermittent means the symptoms occur less frequently than once a week and symptoms at night fewer than two times per month. The peak flows are within 80% and the attacks are brief or mild. Children with this type of asthma generally have a fast acting inhaler that is used as necessary.
Step 2- Mild Persistent
The second step of classifying asthma is called Mild Persistent. This step includes symptoms more than one time per week yet not daily symptoms. Attacks might interfere with daily activities and the peak flow are within 80%. Anti inflammatory medication or a daily controller are frequently used to treat children who have this type of asthma.
Step 3-Moderate Persistent
With moderate persistent asthma symptoms are experienced on a daily basis. The asthma attacks interfere with the child’s’ daily activities as well as sleep. A fast acting inhaler is required. An anti-inflammatory medicine or long acting inhaler should also be used to control the asthma.
Step 4-Severe Persistent
With the severe persistent classification children have peak flows that are 60% or less than predicted. The symptoms interfere and limit activities and sleep. Frequent attacks occur with this classification of asthma and symptoms are experienced on an almost continues basis. A fast acting bronchodilator is needed on a regular basis not to mention a high dose inhaled steroid, anti-inflammatory medication, long lasting bronchodilator medication, and even oral steroids over a long period of time. Children in this classification frequently need the assistance of a pediatric pulmonologist.
Obviously, if your child is in any one of these classifications you will want to help get the asthma under control as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there are ways to do so. The first step is to identify the triggers of an asthma attack as well as when an attack is occurring. Immediate treatment is necessary to get the attack under control. The next step is to always be prepared. You need to have your child’s medicine with you no matter where you go, even if you just run out for 10 minutes. An asthma attack can occur at any time and anywhere. Keep in contact with your pediatrician to determine if medicine is being used to frequently and if the child’s asthma is under control. Treating allergies and the like are also important to ensure the child’s asthma is kept under control.
Please click on the following links for more detailed articles.
- More Information on Asthma in Children
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