Your child's personal asthma action plan

Two young girls whisperingResearch shows that using a written personal asthma action plans is one of the most effective ways of controlling asthma.
This plan should be written by your doctor or asthma nurse, in discussion with you and your child. It will contain the information you need to help your child keep control of their asthma, including details about their asthma medicines, how to tell when their symptoms are getting worse and what they should do about it, and emergency information on what to do if your child has an asthma attack.

The plan allows you to vary your child's medicines within agreed limits to gain better control of your asthma, so it is very important that you know how to use it to help your child keep their symptoms under control. However, you should not change your child's medicines without following an agreed written personal asthma action plan with your child's doctor or asthma nurse.

Review your child's symptoms, medicines and personal asthma action plan with your child's doctor or asthma nurse every 6 -12 months (more frequently if your child has severe asthma symptoms).

Personal asthma action plans

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 are currently working on developing a personal asthma action plan for children between the ages of 5-12 years. In the meantime you should ask your doctor or asthma nurse for a written action plan and they will be able to devise a plan specifically for your child.



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