Asthma treatments for children

How is asthma treated in children?

Based on your child's history and the severity of asthma, your GP will develop a care plan, called an asthma action plan. The asthma action plan describes when and how your child should use asthma medicines, what to do when asthma gets worse and when to seek emergency care for your child. Make sure you understand this plan and ask your child's GP any questions you may have.

Your child's asthma action plan is important if you are to successfully control his or her asthma. Keep it handy to remind you of your child's daily asthma management plan, as well as to guide you when your child develops asthma symptoms.

As well as following your child's asthma action plan, you should limit their exposure to asthma triggers and preferably avoid these altogether.

What asthma medicines can children take?

If an infant or child is experiencing symptoms of asthma requiring treatment with a bronchodilator medicine more than twice a week, most doctors recommend daily anti-inflammatory medicine.

Most asthma medicines that are given to adults and older children can also safely be prescribed to toddlers and younger children. Medicines that are approved for younger children are given in doses adjusted for their age and weight. Specifically, children aged five and older may be prescribed a combination of regular inhaled long-acting beta2 agonist and inhaled steroids which treats both airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. In the case of inhaled medicines, a different delivery device based on the child's age and ability may be required. This is because many children are not able to coordinate their breathing well enough to use a standard inhaler.

How do I give my child asthma medicine?

Your child may be able to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. A spacer is a chamber that attaches to the MDI and holds the burst of medicine. Talk with your child's GP to see if an MDI with a spacer is right for your child.

If your child can not manage the above, then a dry powder inhaler may be considered.

Nebulised therapy delivers liquid medicine as a mist to breathe in through a face mask. This may be used in children younger than five years if the MDI with a spacer is not effective, or your child’s condition requires this treatment. The nebulised treatment takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes and is given several times a day. Your child’s GP will tell you how often to give your child the nebuliser depending on the severity of the asthma.

How do I know when my child's asthma is controlled?

You know your child's asthma is controlled if, with medicines, your child:

• Lives an active, normal life
• Has few troublesome symptoms
• Attends school every day
• Performs daily activities without difficulty
• Has few urgent visits to the doctor or hospital for asthma
• Has few asthma medicine side effects

By learning about asthma and how it can be controlled, you can take an important step towards managing your child's illness. We encourage you to work closely with your child's asthma care team to learn all you can about asthma, how to avoid triggers, what medicines do, and how to correctly administer them. With proper care, your child can live free of asthma symptoms and maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.