Controlling your child's asthma

Over time you will become more able to recognise when your child's symptoms are getting worse: below we list some signs that this might be happening.

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 - you can find out more about them by following the links in this section.

Is my child's asthma getting worse?

Young boy in long-sleeved t-shirt.

The following signs could mean that you 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 'Be in Control' that are suitable for young people over the age of 12 years. 'Be in Control' includes tools to help control your child's asthma, including a Personal Asthma Action Plan, Asthma Review Card, Medicines Card and a Peak Flow Diary. 'Be in Control' packs are available free from Asthma UK.

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

Asthma UK is developing a Personal Asthma Action Plan for children aged 5-12, called the ‘My Asthma’ pack. The pack will include:

  • a Personal Asthma Action Plan (My Asthma Plan)
  • a symptoms and feelings calendar (My Asthma Calendar)
  • stickers for the calendar
  • a postcard for parents/carers with details of the child’s medication
  • a folder to keep the materials in.

If you would like to register your interest in the pack please email info@asthma.org.uk and we will send you one when it is launched (likely to be Autumn 2010).

In the meantime you should ask your doctor or asthma nurse for a written Personal Asthma Action Plan and they will be able to devise a plan specifically for your child.

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.