Controlling Your Child's Asthma

• Learn more about asthma by reading this website and other books and websites about asthma.
• Ask your child’s doctor questions about asthma.
• Make sure your child takes all medicine exactly as your child’s doctor says.
• Know what triggers make your child’s asthma worse. Try to help your child stay away from those triggers.
• Know the warning signs that your child’s asthma is getting worse.

Tools to help control your child’s asthma

Asthma action plan

An asthma action plan is a written plan that you and your doctor make. The plan will outline your child's day-to-day asthma management plan and help you make decisions about the asthma care your child needs. Following your child’s asthma action plan is important to help your child feel better and get control of your child’s asthma. If your child does not have an action plan, make an appointment with your child’s doctor to ask about a plan for your child.

Asthma diary

An asthma diary is a calendar to record your child’s asthma symptoms. Record your child’s asthma symptoms on the diary and discuss them with your child’s doctor. This helps you and your doctor see the patterns in your child’s asthma. An asthma diary can help your child’s doctor adjust your child’s asthma medicine and gain better control of asthma symptoms.

Peak flow meter

A peak flow meter is a device that measures how well air is moving in your child’s lungs. If your child is old enough to follow instructions and use it properly, a peak flow meter can help you and your child's doctor monitor asthma.

Record your child’s peak flow readings in your child’s asthma diary. You can do this when your child is well, so you will know what your child’s normal ( baseline) reading is. When your child’s asthma is getting worse, it is important to take peak flow readings often.

There are three colour-coded areas on a peak flow meter:

• Green means “go.” Congratulations! Your child’s asthma is well controlled. Follow the regular asthma management plan.
• Yellow means “caution.” Your child’s asthma may be getting worse. Your child may need to add controller and/or reliever medicine.
• Red means “stop.” Your child needs to see a doctor right away. Go to the closest emergency department and give your child extra reliever medicine every 10 minutes.