If your child’s asthma is severe they may be referred to a consultant for further treatment.
Face masks and spacers are the best way of making sure that your child gets the correct dose of medication right to their lungs. If your child has been prescribed a face mask or a spacer device, it is important to always use these. A spacer device is a plastic or metal container with a mouthpiece and a hole for the inhaler. Older children will be prescribed a 'spacer device'. Most young children will be prescribed a face mask which attaches to their inhaler. Your GP or GP practice nurse will show you how to use the inhaler and may give you an asthma action plan, which explains what to do during an asthma attack. Your child should use their preventer inhaler every day or it won't work. Preventer inhalers work gradually over time. These inhalers prevent your child’s symptoms from appearing and reduce the risk of long-term problems. If your child needs their reliever inhaler more than 3 times a week, they will need a preventer inhaler too. This allows airways to open, making it easier to breathe. Reliever inhalers relax the muscles around the breathing tubes during an asthma attack. This treatment is usually very effective. Inhalers are devices that allow small amounts of medicine to be breathed into the lungs. Inhalers are usually prescribed to treat asthma. They may also need to do some tests, where your child will need to blow into a device that measures their breathing or airflow. Your GP will ask some questions and listen to your child’s chest. Take your child to your GP if you think they have asthma. Traces of smoke on hair and clothes can also make your child’s asthma worse. Smoking around children or their homes can trigger an asthma attack. The following things can trigger an asthma attack: Related conditions like hay fever, eczema or food allergies can also increase their risk of asthma. Your child is more likely to have asthma if other members of your family have asthma. This also causes mucus to be produced which can cause your child to cough. CausesĪsthma is caused by swelling of the breathing tubes which causes the airways to narrow, making it hard to breathe.
Occasionally symptoms can suddenly get worse, this is called an 'asthma attack'. Most of the time your child may have mild symptoms or none at all. Take the details of your child’s inhalers, other medicines and personal asthma action plan with you if you go to hospital.
0 kommentar(er)
