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  2. Asthma

How can I help my child have fewer asthma episodes (or symptoms)?

There are several things you can do to help your child have fewer asthma episodes.

  • Work with your child's doctor to identify your child's asthma triggers.
  • Take steps to reduce your child's exposure to asthma triggers.
  • Work with your child's doctor to come up with a written action plan for managing your child's asthma.
  • Follow the asthma action plan.
  • Share copies of your child's asthma action plan with your child's school, teachers, babysitters, and family members.
  • Talk about your child's asthma action plan with people in your child's life so that, in case of an asthma episode, they will know what to do.
  • Notice how often you child has asthma symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing.  Ask for reports of asthma symptoms at school or child care.
  • Remind your children to wash their hands to reduce the spread of colds.
  • Contact your child's doctor if your child has asthma symptoms or uses a quick relief inhaler more than once or twice a week.  You and your child's doctor may need to adjust the asthma action plan.

For more information on managing your child's asthma, visit EPA's asthma webpage or NoAttacks.org.

Download a copy of an asthma action plan (PDF).

Related Questions

  • Do children outgrow asthma?

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Contact Us about Asthma
Contact Us about Asthma to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 20, 2024
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