ABOUT ASTHMA
What do you need to know Asthma and what to do if your child might be having an asthma attack

What about Asthma?

Asthma is very common among children, teens and adults. It is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to tighten.

An asthma attack is when your lungs aren’t getting enough air to breathe. Your child might be having an asthma attack if he or she has:

• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Chest tightness

What causes Asthma Attacks?

Things that cause asthma attacks are called triggers.

Triggers are everywhere.

Any home can be full of triggers like:

MOLD

Mold grows on damp things such as shower curtains, bath items, tubs, basins and tiles.

What you can do?

• If you see mold, clean it up with soap and water.
• Use exhaust fans or open a window in the bathroom when showering and the kitchen when cooking or washing dishes.
• Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water as soon as possible.
• Dry damp or wet items within 1-2 days to avoid mold growth.

DUST MITES

Dust mites are tiny bugs you can’t see. They live in sheets, blankets, pillows, mattresses, soft furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys, such as stuffed animals.

What you can do?

• Wash bed sheets and blankets once a week. Dry completely.
• Use dust-proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
• Vacuum carpets, rugs and furniture often.
• Wash stuffed toys. Dry completely.

SECONDHAND SMOKE

Asthma can be triggered by the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, or the smoke breathed out by a smoker. Choose not to smoke in your home or car, and don't allow others to do so either.

What you can do?

• Don’t smoke in your home or car.
• Don’t let anyone smoke near your child.
• Pledge to make your home and car smoke-free

COCKROACHES

Cockroach body parts and droppings may trigger asthma attacks.

What you can do?

• Keep counters, sinks, tables, and floors clean.
• Clean dishes, crumbs, and spills.
• Store food in air tight containers.
• Cover trash cans.

CATS and DOGS

A warm-blooded animal's urine and saliva may also trigger attacks.

What you can do?

• Keep pets outside if possible.
• If you have a pet inside, keep them out of the bedroom and off the furniture.
• Vacuum carpets and furniture often.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is an odorless gas that can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat and may cause shortness of breath. This gas can come from the use of appliances that burn fuels, such as gas, wood, and kerosene.

What you can do?

• If possible, use fuel-burning appliances that are vented outside. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use these appliances.
• Gas cooking stoves: Never use these to keep you warm or heat your house. If you have an exhaust fan, use it when you cook.
• Unvented kerosene or gas space heaters: Use the proper fuel and keep the heater adjusted the right way. Open a window slightly or use an exhaust fan.
• Wood stoves: Make sure the doors are tight fitting. Follow the maker's instructions for starting, burning, and putting out the fire.
• Fireplaces: Always open the flue.

CHEMICAL IRRITANTS

Chemical irritants found in some products in your house, such as scented or unscented products, including cleaners, paints, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetics, or air fresheners, may make your child's asthma worse. Strong emotional expression (including crying or laughing hard) and stress.

What you can do?

• Use these products less often and make sure your child is not around when you use the products. Also, consider trying different products.
• Take great care to follow the instructions on the label. If you use these products, try to make sure that windows or doors are open and that you use an exhaust fan.

Other asthma triggers may be air pollution (such as ozone, small particles, and pollen), foods, respiratory infections and exercise.

Air pollution can trigger your child's asthma. Even healthy people can have trouble breathing on high air pollution days. The main air pollution triggers are small particles (also known as particulate matter) and ozone. These come from smoke, dust, and emissions from cars, factories and power plants. In general, ozone levels are highest in the summer, but levels of particle pollution can be high any time of year and are higher near busy roads.

Asthma attacks can occur the same day, but may also occur the day AFTER outdoor pollution levels are high. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) - http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ - reports unhealthy levels, limit physical exertion outdoors.

What you can do?

• Reschedule a high-energy outdoor activity to avoid the period when air pollution levels are high, or
• Reduce the intensity of the activity, or
• Spend less time engaged in high-energy activities.
• Postpone sports activities to another time if air pollution levels are very high.

Asthma cannot be cured. But, with the help of a doctor and an asthma action plan, you can make sure your child stays active and healthy.

Others

• Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers
• Sulfites in food (dried fruit) or beverages (wine)
• A condition called gastroesophageal (GAS-tro-e-sof-o-JEE-al) reflux disease that causes heartburn and can worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night
• Irritants or allergens that you may be exposed to at your work, such as special chemicals or dusts
• Infections

Preventing Attacks

Step 1: Talk to a Doctor

Talk to a doctor about your child’s asthma. If your child has asthma or if you think your child may have asthma, take your child to a doctor. Your doctor will work with you to keep your child from having asthma attacks.

• Learn what triggers your child’s asthma attacks.
• Identify asthma triggers in your home.
• Talk about ways to get rid of triggers in your home.
• Find out what medicine your child should take.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Ask your doctor to help you create your child’s Asthma Action Plan.

Work with your doctor to create an Asthma Action Plan that will help you learn to prevent your child’s asthma attacks.

An Asthma Action Plan will help you control your child's asthma on a regular basis.

Step 3: Asthma-Proof Your Home

Triggers are a part of everyday life.

Asthma attacks can be triggered by things like mold growing on your shower curtain or tiny dust mites that live in blankets, pillow, or your child's stuffed animals.

Learn more about things that might trigger an asthma attack and what you can do to get rid of them and help your child stay healthy.

Asthma Action Plan

You can help avoid the emergency room by managing your child's asthma daily. With a doctor's help, you can create an Asthma Action Plan to help you take care of your child and reduce the triggers in your home.

Download Asthma Action Card - DOWNLOAD PDF file

When you and your doctor make the plan, be sure to include:

• Your child’s asthma triggers.
• Instructions for asthma medicines.
• What to do if your child has an asthma attack.
• When to call your doctor.
• Emergency telephone numbers.

Use this Asthma Action Plan at home, school, and with your babysitter. Be sure to give a copy of your child’s asthma plan to your child’s school (teacher, coach, nurse) and talk it over with them. In case of an attack, they will know what to do.

If you follow the steps in this plan, you will help prevent your child from having asthma attacks

Treating Asthma in Children

        Children with asthma, like adults with asthma, should see a doctor for treatment of their asthma. Treatment may include allergy testing, finding ways to limit contact with things that bring on asthma attacks, and taking medicine.

        Young children will need help from their parents and other caregivers to keep their asthma under control. Older children can learn to care for themselves and follow their asthma self-management plan with less supervision.

        Asthma medicines for children are like those adults use, but doses are smaller. Children with asthma may need both a quick-relief (or "rescue") inhaler for attacks and daily medicine to control their asthma. Children with moderate or severe asthma should learn to use a peak flow meter to help keep their asthma under control. Using a peak flow meter can be very helpful because children often have a hard time describing their symptoms.

        Parents should be alert for possible signs of asthma in children, such as coughing at night, frequent colds, wheezing, or other signs of breathing problems. If you suspect that your child has asthma or that your child's asthma is not well controlled, take your child to a doctor for an exam and testing.

        Your doctor will choose medicines for your child based on the child's symptoms and test results. If your child has asthma, you will need to go to the doctor for regular follow up visits and to make sure that your child uses the medicines properly.

Helping Your Child Live With Asthma

Children with asthma need the help of parents, other caregivers, teachers, and health care professionals to keep their asthma under control.

You can help your child with asthma keep it under control. For example, you can:

• Take your child to the doctor for regular checkups and treatment.
• Make sure your child has an asthma self-management plan and that you know how to follow it.
• Help your child learn about asthma and how to control it.
• Help your child learn what things cause his or her asthma symptoms and how to avoid them, if possible.
• Protect your child from tobacco smoke by not smoking and not allowing people to smoke in your home.
• Find ways to reduce your child's exposure to allergens that bring on asthma attacks, like pollen, dust mites, cockroaches, or animal dander.
• Make sure your child knows how to take asthma medicines correctly (if your child is old enough to use an inhaler without your help).
• Make sure that your child uses a peak flow meter to help monitor and control asthma.
• Encourage your child to take part in physical activity. Work together to keep his or her asthma under control. Your child can be active.
• Talk to your child's other caregivers, teachers, or coaches about his or her asthma; give them copies of your child's asthma self-management plan.

Asthma Hotline

If you would like to speak with an asthma expert, contact one of the toll free hotlines below.

Allergy and Asthma Network *Mothers of Asthmatics
1-800-878-4403

American Lung Association
1-800-586-4872
www.lungusa.org/local
Visit this site to obtain phone numbers for local chapters.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

1-800-727-8462, 7 a.m. - midnight

EPA Resources

EPA provides free materials to help you learn more about controlling indoor asthma triggers. Visit www.epa.gov/asthma or call 1-800-438-4318 to order these free documents.

Help your child learn about asthma

It's important for your child to know what can be good or bad when it comes to asthma. Click here to download a funbook with games that teach your child about asthma and triggers.

Your child can play the following games to learn all about triggers and how to avoid attacks:
- Crossword Puzzle
- Maze
- Connect-the-Dots
- Coloring Page
- Seek-and-Find

View the winning posters by kids in grades 1 through 8 at "Living with Asthma" This annual competition is co-sponsored by the AAAAI and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Please visit: http://www.aaaai.org/patients/just4kids/postercontest/2005winners.stm