Content originally from Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System
| Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood. There’s currently no cure, but there are simple treatments and most people with asthma can live normal lives. It’s important if your child has been prescribed an inhaler that they use this correctly: Asthma UK has information about using your inhaler, and you can ask a pharmacist, nurse, or GP for advice if you’re still not sure. MySpira app – developed for children aged between 6 – 13, it includes 8, fun modules, that use augmented reality and gameplay to offer the very best asthma education. Click here to learn more about the MySpira app. |
| Steps You Can Take to help Control Your Child’s Asthma Have an asthma action plan in place for your child – this can be shared with your child’s school or clubs they attend. If you don’t have one, please make an appointment with your GP or practice nurse. Your child will be called for an annual review every year to review their asthma and their medications – please ensure you attend this appointment so your child’s asthma can be reviewed and any medications can be changed if needed. Ensure your child is using their inhaler correctly – you can get your child’s inhaler technique checked at your local pharmacy. Your child may need to a spacer to help them taking their inhaler – please ask at your pharmacy or at your child’s annual review if you think it would help. Think about what kind of environmental triggers may set off your child’s asthma – are there things you can do to reduce exposure to these? For more information and advice on caring for your child’s asthma, watch this short video with local asthma nurse Liona Musengezi. Advice about Asthma in Children |
| Recognise the signs of an asthma attack An asthma attack happens when your child’s asthma symptoms get much worse.This can happen quite suddenly or can build up gradually over a few days. Your child might: find it hard to breathe breathe more quickly be unable to talk or walk or eat wheeze and cough a lot complain of a tight chest or a tummy ache say their blue reliever inhaler isn’t helping, or they need it more than every four hours be unusually quiet If your child needs to use their blue reliever inhaler three or more times a week, it’s a sign that their asthma is not well controlled. Make an appointment with your GP or asthma nurse to review their asthma as soon as possible. Outside of the home: Children with well controlled Asthma can participate normally in school and nursery. However, it is important to make sure your child’s school has all the necessary information about their condition – you can share your child’s asthma action with relevant people. |
SWF Health & Social Care Group 