Pediatric asthma

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Lungs

Normal versus asthmatic bronchiole

Peak flow meter

Asthma - pediatric

You and your child's pediatrician or allergist should work together as a team to develop and carry out a plan for eliminating asthma triggers and monitoring symptoms. You should also have an emergency plan that outlines what to do when your child's asthma flares up.

MEDICATIONS

There are two basic kinds of medication for the treatment of asthma:

Long-term control medications are used on a regular basis to prevent attacks, not for treatment during an attack. Types include:

• Inhaled steroids (such as Azmacort, Vanceril, AeroBid, Flovent) prevent inflammation
• Leukotriene inhibitors (such as Singulair and Accolate)
• Long-acting bronchodilators (such as Serevent) help open airways
• Cromolyn sodium (Intal) or nedocromil sodium
• Aminophylline or theophylline (not used as frequently as in the past)

Sometimes a combination of steroids and bronchodilators are used.

Quick relief, or rescue, medications are used to relieve symptoms during an attack. These include:

• Short-acting bronchodilators (inhalers), such as Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex, and others.
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone) given by mouth or into a vein

Although these are the same medications used to treat adults, there are different inhalers and dosages especially for children. In fact, children often use a nebulizer to take their medicine rather than an inhaler, because it can be difficult for them to use an inhaler properly.

Children with mild asthma (infrequent attacks) may use quick relief medication as needed. Those with persistent asthma should take control medications on a regular basis to prevent symptoms.

A child who is having a severe asthma attack should be immediately seen by a doctor. The child may need to stay in the hospital, and may be given oxygen and medicines by an intravenous line (IV).

ELIMINATING TRIGGERS

You and your family can help control a child's asthma by helping get rid of the indoor triggers that make symptoms worse.

Eliminating tobacco smoke from the home is the single most important thing a family can do to help a child with asthma. Smoking outside the house is not enough. Family members and visitors who smoke carry smoke residue in and on their clothes and hair -- this can trigger asthma symptoms.