What do people need to care
for a child with asthma?
It is important that anyone caring for a child
knows he/she has asthma and is provided with:
——The child’s asthma action plan written by
their doctor
——An Asthma First Aid Plan (there is a copy in
this pamphlet)
——a blue/grey reliever puffer and a spacer (and a
mask for very young children, e.g. under 5)
——Preventer medication – if the child is in care at
the time of day that this is given
Make sure the carer knows that if the child’s
asthma is getting worse, they need to:
——Follow the child’s written asthma action plan, or
——Follow the standard Asthma First Aid Plan if the
child’s own asthma plan is not available
Be prepared ... learn Asthma First Aid
What help is available?
Your doctor, pharmacist or
local Asthma Foundation
can help you learn more
about asthma.
Education, information and
support are available from
your local Asthma Foundation.
Asthma Australia provides training
and support for Education and
Children’s Services to become
Asthma Friendly.
Ask your child’s care service or
school if they are Asthma Friendly.
1
Asthma &
under 5s
Sit the person upright
— Be calm and reassuring
— Do not leave them alone
2 Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey
reliever puffer
for parents
and carers
— Shake puffer
— Put 1 puff into spacer
— Take 4 breaths from spacer
Repeat until 4 puffs have been taken
Remember: Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths
OR Give 2 separate doses of a Bricanyl inhaler (age 6 & over)
or a Symbicort inhaler (over 12).
3
Wait 4 minutes
— If there is no improvement, give 4 more Ask your local Asthma Foundation about further
separate puffs of blue/grey reliever information including:
as above ——Asthma B ­ asic Facts
(OR give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort inhaler.)
——Asthma M ­ edications
4 If there is still no improvement call
emergency assistance (DIAL OOO)
—Children’s
— Asthma - Education and Care services
You can also ask about community education and
training programs.
— Say ‘ambulance’ and that someone is
having an asthma attack Schools and Early Childhood education/care services
— Keep giving 4 separate puffs every can access training to be asthma friendly.
4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives
(OR 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes — up to Contact your local Asthma Foundation
3 more doses of Symbicort).
1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462)
asthmaaustralia.org.au
Call emergency assistance immediately (DIAL 000)
— If the person is not breathing
— If the person’s asthma suddenly becomes worse, or is not
improving Translating and
— If the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever is
Interpreting Service
not available
— If you are not sure if it’s asthma
131 450
— If the person is known to have Anaphylaxis - follow their
Anaphylaxis Action Plan, then give Asthma First Aid. All Asthma Australia information is endorsed by our Medical and Scientific
Blue/grey reliever medication is unlikely to harm, even if the person Advisory Committee and is consistent with the Australian Asthma Handbook.
does not have asthma
Asthma Australia information does not replace professional medical advice.
People should ask their doctor any questions about diagnosis and treatment.
©Asthma Australia 2014
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Australia License.To view
Contact your local Asthma Foundation
a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/au/ or send a letter toCreative Commons, 444 Castro Street,
1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
AADLFA2014
AAU52014
Translating and
asthmaaustralia.org.au Interpreting Service This resource is supported by funding from the Australian Government under
© Asthma Australia 2014 Supported by the Australian Government 131 450 the Asthma Management Program.

How common is asthma?
In Australia, one in every eight or nine children
has asthma. It is one of the most common reasons
children visit the doctor and go to hospital.
What causes asthma?
It is not fully understood why children develop
asthma, though people with asthma often have
a family history of asthma, eczema and hayfever
(allergic rhinitis).
Will my child grow out of
asthma?
Many children find their asthma improves as they
enter teenage years. At this time, there is no
way of predicting if a child will continue to have
asthma. Children are more likely to continue to
have asthma into adulthood if they:
——Have hayfever, eczema or allergies
——Have a parent, brother or sister with asthma
——Are exposed to cigarette smoke
——Are overweight or obese
——Have severe, persistent asthma
There are many causes of wheeze and cough in early
childhood. Infants with a wheezing illness do not
necessarily go on to have asthma
Diagnosis
Your information can help a doctor decide if a child
Helpful hint
has asthma. The doctor will ask about: Make a note of when the child’s symptoms
—— the child’s/family history of asthma and allergy appear worse and what you think may have
set off their asthma symptoms. Being able
—— a description of the child’s symptoms
to identify these triggers can help you and
Lung function tests are used to diagnose asthma,
the doctor make sure the child has the best
however very young children are unable to perform this.
asthma plan for staying safe and well.
Lung function tests can be attempted from the age of six
years. A trial of asthma medication is sometimes needed
to determine if a child has asthma.
Help children with asthma
Symptoms breathe better
Create smoke free homes and cars. 1 in 12 children
Young children with asthma can have a range of
with asthma are exposed to tobacco smoke in their
symptoms. Children describe these symptoms in
home. Children of smoking parents are twice as likely
different ways, for example:
to have symptoms of asthma before they are five
—— Sore chest years old. Children exposed to cigarette smoke are
—— ‘Frog’ in their throat
more likely to have severe asthma flare-ups (asthma
—— Sore tummy attacks). If you are a smoker, there has never been a
And you might notice symptoms such as: better time to quit.
—— Shortness of breath
—— Wheezing For further information contact
—— Persistent cough – often at night, early in the QUIT 13 78 48
morning or during/after activity
Recognising these symptoms as asthma means Written asthma
you will be able to respond in the best way. action plans
An important part of
What makes the child’s providing the best care for
asthma worse? a child with asthma is
having a written asthma
A trigger is something that sets off/starts or worsens
asthma symptoms. Not all children have the same
action plan – that explains
what medications the
triggers. Colds and respiratory viruses are by far the child needs to take for
most common triggers of asthma symptoms in young his/her asthma, and
children. Refer to Asthma Australia’s Basic Facts and what to do if asthma
Triggers brochures to read about common asthma symptoms worsen,
triggers: asthmaaustralia.org.au
including how to
Cigarette smoke is another common asthma trigger. manage asthma
Children exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely during a cold/virus or
to have asthma and flare-ups are more likely to be flu. Ask the doctor
severe. to provide a written
asthma plan and
review it twice a year.
Will my child need asthma
medications?
The doctor may suggest asthma medication.
The type of medication will depend on:
—— How frequently the child has symptoms
—— How unwell they become with asthma
Relievers (blue/grey)
All children with asthma should have a blue/
grey reliever puffer. Some children only need to
take this medication to relieve symptoms now
and again. If blue/grey reliever is needed more
than two days per week, see the child’s doctor
as soon as possible.
Preventers
Some children need to take daily medication
to achieve good control of asthma symptoms.
These medications are called preventers and
are used every day, even when the child is well.
This may be for a set period, for example over
winter, or all year round. Preventer medications
for children include puffers, inhalers or
chewable tablets.
Always keep a blue/grey reliever puffer,
spacer, (and mask, if needed) with the child
for treating:
— worsening symptoms or
— an asthma attack
Devices
Asthma medications come in
a range of devices. Young
children require a small
spacer to help get the
medications into their
lungs. Very young children
also need a mask - see
image left.