Medicines for your child

There are two main types of asthma medicines, called relievers and preventers, and they work in different ways. Most asthma medicines are breathed in through an inhaler. This is a very effective way of taking the medicine, as it goes straight to the lungs. Inhalers can be in a spray form (aerosol) or a dry powder form. Aerosol inhalers can be taken through a device called a spacer. Spacers make your child's inhaler easier to use and more effective.

• Reliever inhalers help to relieve symptoms when they happen
• Preventer inhalers help to protect the airways and reduce the chance of getting asthma symptoms
• Other medicines are also available - these include long-acting reliever and preventer tablets.

Everyone with asthma should have a reliever inhaler. Reliever inhalers are usually blue. Relievers are medicines that children can take immediately when asthma symptoms appear. They quickly relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways. This allows the airways to open wider, making it easier to breathe again.

• Relievers are essential in treating asthma attacks. Your child should take a dose of reliever inhaler when they start having asthma symptoms.
• Children with asthma need to keep their reliever inhalers with them or close at hand at all times. You may never know when they might need it.
• If your child is using their reliever inhaler three or more times a week, it could mean their asthma is not controlled properly. Ask your doctor or asthma nurse to review your child's asthma.

Preventers protect the lining of the airways. Preventer inhalers are usually brown, red or white. They help to calm down the swelling in the airways and stop them from being so sensitive. This means that your child is less likely to react badly when she/he comes across an asthma trigger. However, not all children and young people will need a preventer inhaler. Preventer inhalers are usually prescribed for children and young people using their reliever inhaler three or more times a week.

Most children or young people who need preventer medicines will receive a preventer inhaler from their doctor or asthma nurse that contains inhaled steroids. There are several kinds of inhaled steroids, but they all work in the same way.

• Preventers reduce the risk of severe attacks.
• Their protective effect builds up over a period of time, so they need to be taken every day, usually morning and evening, even if your child is feeling well.
• When your child first starts using them, it may take up to 14 days before you notice any improvement in asthma symptoms.
• They are usually recommended if your child needs to use a reliever more than once a day on a regular basis.

Spacers are a useful way of ensuring children, especially young children, take the whole dose of medicine that is delivered through an inhaler.

In addition to relievers and preventers, other types of asthma medicine are also available. These include long-acting relievers and non-steroidal preventer tablets. These are usually used in addition to inhaled preventers.

A short course of steroid tablets (usually three to five days) is sometimes needed to treat a child's asthma after an asthma attack. They are very effective at bringing severe asthma symptoms under control quickly.

Your child should not experience any side effects from an occasional course of steroid tablets.

• For some children this can lower the body's resistance to chickenpox. If your child has had a short course of steroid tablets in the previous three months and comes into contact with chickenpox, go and see your doctor. If your doctor thinks your child is at risk from chicken pox they can give your child an injection to protect them.
• The other possible side effects from taking a short course of steroid tablets are mood swings an dincreased hunger.

Many parents worry about giving their child steroids to treat their asthma. Here are some points to remember:

• The steroids used to treat asthma are called corticosteroids. These are a copy of those produced naturally in our bodies.
• They are completely different to the anabolic steroids associated with bodybuilders and athletes.
• Most children use inhaled steroids that go straight down to the airways, so very little is absorbed into the rest of the body.
• Your doctor should prescribe the lowest possible dose of inhaled steroids to get your child's asthma under control.
• Low doses of inhaled steroids do not cause side effects and have no effect on growth.
• It is important that your child is regularly reviewed by your doctor or nurse to ensure that they are using the lowest dose needed to control their asthma.

Parents often have questions and concerns about their children taking steroids. We have collected the most frequently asked questions here.

A nebuliser is a machine that creates a mist of medicine, which is then breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece. They are not necessary for most people with asthma.