Asthma
This booklet explains asthma in young people, including its causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is Asthma and what is a wheeze?
This is a chronic (long term) condition, where the tubes carrying the air to the lungs become narrow.
This causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.
A wheeze is a sound that occurs with breathing.
It is high pitched like a whistle.
What happens during an asthma attack?
An asthma attack is when the symptoms of asthma become worse.
This can happen suddenly.
It may also happen gradually.
During an attack the airways become narrower leading to the symptoms:
An irritant called a trigger reaches the airways.
This causes the muscles in the airways to contract.
The airway becomes inflamed.
It produces excess mucous.
This leads to coughing.
The airway becomes narrow leading to wheezes and breathlessness.
What are the common triggers for asthma attacks?
You should be aware of your asthma triggers.
The triggers differ from one person to the other.
Keep a note of what causes an asthma attack.
The trigger may lead to asthma after a few hours from exposure.
Triggers include:
Tobacco smoke
Wood smoke
Pollen
Animal hair
Chest infections
Cold air
Exercise
How is Asthma Managed?
Asthma Action Plan:
The health care provider will discuss and document with you how to manage the asthma.
This will include information on signs to look for.
The medicines needed to control the asthma.
What to do in an asthma attack.
Asthma Medications
Inhalers
These are medicines that are breathed in.
In children they are given through spacers.
There are different types of inhalers:
Relievers
These are taken when there are signs of asthma.
They relax the muscles in the airways.
They are usually blue.
Preventers
These reduce the chance of an asthma attack happening.
They are taken daily.
They are usually red.
They may take a couple of weeks before an improvement is noticed.
What is a spacer?
A spacer is an instrument that helps your child use inhaler medicines.
It is an empty tube.
It attaches to the inhaler on one side.
It has a mouthpiece or mask on the other side.
How to use a spacer?
Your child must sit in an upright position.
Shake the inhaler medicine.
Fit the inhaler medicine into its opening.
Place the mouthpiece or the mask on your child’s face.
Press the top of the inhaler and release.
Count with your child 10 breaths with every puff.
Remove the mouthpiece or mask from your child.
Shake the spacer and the inhaler together.
Give your child back the mouthpiece or mask and repeat the procedure for every puff prescribed.
Make sure your child is maintaining a seal around the mouthpiece or mask.
How to clean a spacer?
This should be done once a month.
Remove the inhaler piece (where the medicine goes).
Soak the tube and the mouthpiece in warm soapy water.
Leave it for 15 minutes.
Rinse the soap away with running hot water.
Set it aside to dry in an upright position.
Do not put it in a dishwasher.
Other medicines
Tablets may be used to prevent attacks.
Steroids may also be helpful sometimes.
Asthma Emergency
Asthma attacks can be dangerous.
Do not hesitate to call emergency services if the symptoms are severe or are not relieved by medications.
What are the signs of an asthma attack?
Symptoms include:
Feeling too breathless to speak or sleep.
Breathing is faster.
Feeling tired and looking sleepy.
Cough that is getting worse.
The wheeze when breathing is getting worse.
Tummy ache.
Tightness in the chest.
What to do during an asthma attack?
Sit your child up.
Give a puff of the relieving inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds.
Give up to 10 puffs.
If there is no improvement, contact emergency services.