What to Do If a Child Is Having an Asthma Attack

If your child comes to you wheezing, coughing and trying to breathe, it's hard not to panic, especially if it hasn't happened before. What do you do? Hopefully you are prepared if you know your child has asthma. Asthma in children varies from mild to severe, so it's helpful to talk to your doctor about having an asthma action plan for when attacks occur.

First Steps

• An attack can be stopped or relieved but treatment is required right away. If you have worked out a written action plan with your doctor, this will guide you through the necessary steps. These include administering Albuteral through an inhaler or nebulizer (an electric pump that produces Albuteral mist into a face mask) and monitoring your child's breathing. If you have the equipment, you can measure your child's peak expiratory flow. When home treatment does not help or the child needs the inhaler again in less than three hours, you should call your doctor.

Emergencies

• If you don't have medicine handy during a severe attack, get help by calling 911, your doctor or going to the nearest medical facility. An inhaler or other medicine usually relieves an attack, but call 911 if you follow your action plan and it does not help, if your child still can't breathe, has trouble getting air or has heavy wheezing. Most asthma attacks can be treated at home (or wherever you are) with the proper medicine, so it's important to carry medicine.

Preventing Other Attacks

• After administering medicine, try to calm the child down. Note symptoms and anything that might have triggered the attack to show to your doctor. Talk to your doctor about prescription medications for chronic asthma such as Singular, and avoid asthma triggers such as cigarette smoke, pet dander, pollen, dust and sickness.