Controlling your child's asthma

Over time, you and you child will become more able to recognise when their symptoms are getting worse.

Make sure you have a written personal asthma action plan for your child and that they have regular asthma reviews. These will help you to control your child's symptoms.

Is your child's asthma getting worse?

Young boy in long-sleeved t-shirt.

The following signs could mean that your child's asthma is getting worse:

  • Wheezing and coughing first thing in the morning
  • Increased wheezing and coughing after exercise, or doing less exercise
  • Waking at night with a cough or wheeze
  • If the reliever inhaler is not providing relief of symptoms after 3-4 hours
  • Needing more and more reliever medicine with less and less effect.

    You can agree a personal action plan with your doctor or nurse so that you know what to do if any of these happen.

Tools to help your child

Asthma UK has produced a pack of materials called 'My Asthma' that is suitable for children between the ages of 6 to 12. 'My Asthma' includes a personal asthma action plan designed especially for children, a calendar for them to log how their asthma is every day and a medicines postcard.

For children under five, a personal asthma action plan can be downloaded here: Under 5s Asthma Action Plan (81 kb) [pdf].

Also in this section

Wallet sized card guide to do during an asthma attack.

The Asthma Attack card is a wallet sized guide to how to recognise an asthma attack and what steps to take.