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Asthma and children:​
What you should know

Asthma is a common condition that causes airways to swell and fill with mucus. This can make it hard to breathe.

 

Asthma can be caused by genetics or the environment. Asthma is long-lasting, but there are ways to help keep your child’s asthma under control. 

Watch our video
Diagnosis

Asthma can start at any age. In Canada, there are over 850,000 children under the age of 14 living with asthma.  


It may take some time before your child is diagnosed with asthma, even if they have asthma-like symptoms. Many things can affect our breathing, so a child’s symptoms could be caused by something other than asthma. Some of the tests that are used to diagnose asthma can only be done on older children.

Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma can be mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms can be different in every child and they can be different over time. Common symptoms are: 

Coughing

Wheezing

Trouble breathing

Asthma attack

During an asthma attack, airways get thick and swell. In medical terms, this is called inflammation. The muscles around the airways get tight. The airways make a thick liquid mucus that might block them and make it hard for your child to breathe.

When you should get
emergency care

Get emergency care if your child:
  • Is having trouble breathing (look for indrawing), OR 
  • Looks blue around the lips, OR
  • Is very sleepy (lethargic) 

When you should go to
the doctor

Visit your doctor if your child’s symptoms:
  • Do not get better when taking reliever medication every 4 hours, OR
  • Do not improve after 2-3 days, OR
  • Get worse
Treatment
Reliever Medications
All children with asthma are prescribed reliever medicine. Relievers work quickly to relax the muscles around the airways and help your child breathe more easily. Relievers are usually used when your child is having trouble breathing.

Salbutamol, or VentolinTM, is an example of a reliever medicine. To take reliever medicines, your child may be prescribed a puffer, inhaler, spacer, and/or turbuhaler. These are devices that help deliver the medication to your child. Make sure to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for instructions on how to use these devices with your child.
Controller Medications
Some children may also be prescribed controller medicine. Controller medicines work slowly over time to stop the airway linings from swelling. Controller medicines are usually taken every day.

Corticosteroids are an example of controller medicines. Some controller medication needs to be used with a puffer or inhaler, others are in pill form.
Action plan
Asthma is long-lasting, so it needs to be managed every day. Action plans can help you care for your child’s asthma by telling you and your child:
• What to do every day to manage the asthma,
• What medications to take and when,
• What to do if your child’s asthma gets worse, and
• What to do if your child has an asthma attack.

Your child’s healthcare provider will work with you to make an action plan. Always share this plan with your child and with anyone who spends a lot of time with your child (e.g. daycare, school, family members). This will help them know how to help manage your child’s asthma. It will also help your child understand early warning signs of an asthma attack.
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Treatment
Reliever Medications
All children with asthma are prescribed reliever medicine. Relievers work quickly to relax the muscles around the airways and help your child breathe more easily. Relievers are usually used when your child is having trouble breathing.

Salbutamol, or VentolinTM, is an example of a reliever medicine. To take reliever medicines, your child may be prescribed a puffer, inhaler, spacer, and/or turbuhaler. These are devices that help deliver the medication to your child. Make sure to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for instructions on how to use these devices with your child.
Controller Medications
Some children may also be prescribed controller medicine. Controller medicines work slowly over time to stop the airway linings from swelling. Controller medicines are usually taken every day.

Corticosteroids are an example of controller medicines. Some controller medication needs to be used with a puffer or inhaler, others are in pill form.
Action plan
Asthma is long-lasting, so it needs to be managed every day. Action plans can help you care for your child’s asthma by telling you and your child:
• What to do every day to manage the asthma,
• What medications to take and when,
• What to do if your child’s asthma gets worse, and
• What to do if your child has an asthma attack.

Your child’s healthcare provider will work with you to make an action plan. Always share this plan with your child and with anyone who spends a lot of time with your child (e.g. daycare, school, family members). This will help them know how to help manage your child’s asthma. It will also help your child understand early warning signs of an asthma attack.
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Triggers

A trigger is anything that might cause the airways to get thick and swell, leading to an asthma attack. Every child can have different triggers. It’s important to know what your child’s triggers are and avoid them when possible.

 

Common triggers include: 

Viruses

Animals

Dust Mites

Molds and Pollen

Air Pollutants 

Smoke

Exercise 

Managing asthma attacks

Common early warning signs: 

  • A cough that will not go away
  • Coughing at night 
  • Unusually tired soon after playing or exercising
  • Breathing faster than usual
  • Pain in chest or when breathing

You can help manage your child’s asthma attack by:

  • Removing your child from triggers,
  • Giving them puffer or inhaler medication as prescribed*,
  • Monitoring their breathing, and
  • Watching for early warning signs of an asthma attack

*If your child has reliever medication, it’s important to keep it near them at all times. Some families choose to keep an inhaler or puffer in a few different places so they will always have one on hand. This can help your child get their medication as soon as they need it.  


Useful links

Asthma: overview and care after a hospital visit

Visit AboutKidsHealth.ca

Asthma in Children 

Alberta Health

Visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca

Asthma in 

Children

Visit Asthma.ca

Kids Asthma 

Action Plan

Visit Asthma.ca
Contact Us

echokt@ualberta.ca

www.echokt.ca

Liability Statement

This research was funded by 

the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

© ECHO Research and ARCHE, 2022. This resource may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research and ARCHE. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca

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The information contained in this video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

Physical treatments can include physiotherapy, prescribed exercise plans, strengthening exercises, massage, and more. 

Psychological treatments can include counselling or talk therapy, supportive therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, mediation, and more. They can be provided on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. 

Disclaimer

The information contained in the video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

These resources may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca.