Your child's asthma review

Young south Asian boy. Asthma is a long-term condition that needs to be treated on an individual basis. Just like visiting the dentist or the optician it is important for your child to have regular review appointments with their doctor or asthma nurse to monitor their asthma symptoms and the medicines they are taking.
When should my child have an asthma review:
  • Most doctors suggest you and your child visit them or an asthma nurse for an asthma review every six to twelve months, or more regularly just after your child has been diagnosed.
  • A month or so after your child's asthma medicines are changed to new medicines or if their normal medicine has been increased or decreased.
  • within 48 hours of a serious asthma attack to make sure your child's symptoms are better controlled. Your child will also need another review one to two weeks after a serious attack to make sure your symptoms are back under control.
  • If your child's personal asthma action plan is not helping them to get back in control of their symptoms.

During your child's review you should expect to be asked the following three questions:
  • Has your child had difficulty sleeping because of their asthma symptoms (including cough)?
  • Has your child had their usual symptoms during the day (cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness)?
  • Has their asthma interfered with their usual activities?

To help your child to take control of their asthma, here is a list of things you should know by the time you leave the doctor or asthma nurse at your review appointment.

Checklist

  • My child has a written personal asthma action plan.
  • My child knows how their medicines work and which medicine to take at different times.
  • My child knows how to use their inhaler correctly and I/my child feels confident.
  • I know how to recognise when my child's asthma is getting worse and have started to monitor when this happens to help identify their triggers.
  • I know what steps to take in an asthma attack.
  • I know how often my child and I should see my child's doctor or asthma nurse about my child's asthma.
If you have answered no to any of the above questions, discuss them with your doctor or asthma nurse at your next appointment or contact the Asthma UK Adviceline on 08457 01 02 03.


In this section