Asthma Treatment Protocol in Children

Children with asthma sometimes have difficulty breathing because their lungs and airway tubes become swollen and inflamed. Asthma treatments vary depending on the severity of the condition, but most often, treatments aim to prevent asthma attacks and treat asthma attacks as they occur. Untreated asthma attacks can be fatal.

Avoid Triggers

• Prevent asthma by eliminating or avoiding possible asthma triggers. Children may be more prone to having an asthma attack when exposed to cigarette smoke or nasal allergens.

Take Maintenance Meds

• Daily inhaled doses of steroids prevent asthma attacks and are often prescribed to children.

Prevent Asthma Attacks

• Use an albuterol inhaler whenever wheezing or breathing difficulties first occur. According to the National Health Institutes, albuterol may be used before exercise to prevent asthma, or it may used as needed when symptoms arise. Keep albuterol with the child at all times, including sending an albuterol inhaler to school with the child.

Treat Asthma Attacks

• During an asthma attack, an inhaler or a nebulizer delivers medication into the child's lungs to ease breathing. If your child has an asthma attack and medications do not ease the symptoms, call 911 for help.

Treat Allergies

• According to Baby Center, about 80 percent of all children suffer from nasal allergies that can trigger asthma symptoms or asthma attacks in some children. Treat nasal allergies with prescription antihistamines.