Keeping a Child with Asthma Well

If your child has asthma, it can be scary. But you and your child will feel better if you know how to care for asthma. Ask your child's doctor any questions you have about asthma.

How can I keep my child from having an attack?

If your child has asthma, these three steps can help prevent attacks:

1. Take your child to the doctor for asthma checkups even if your child feels fine. The doctor will check your child's breathing. If your child takes medicine, the doctor will make sure it is working. Make sure you get an "asthma action plan" from your doctor.

2. Follow the doctor's directions for what medicines to take and when to take them. Give the medicine to your child even if he or she seems healthy. If your child needs more than one kind of medicine, give both kinds.

3. Keep things away from your child that can cause an asthma attack. Smoke, sprays, mold, dust, animals, cockroaches, and strong smells from perfumes and soaps can make your child's asthma worse. If possible, keep these things away from your child.

How do I know if my child is having an asthma attack?

These are signs of an asthma attack:

• Non-stop coughing

• Skin turning blue

• Trouble breathing

• Wheezing (whistling sound while breathing)

What do I do if my child has an asthma attack?

1. Calm your child. Tell him or her it will be OK. Feeling scared can make the asthma attack worse.

2. Give your child the medicine the doctor says to give when your child has an asthma attack.

3. Help your child sit up straight.

4. Give your child clear liquids to drink, such as water.

When should I get help for an asthma attack?

Get help right away if any one of these things is happening:

• Your child is having his or her first asthma attack.

• You do what the doctor told you to do during an asthma attack, but it is not working.

• Your child has a temperature over 102 degrees.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan has a special program for members with asthma.  For more information about Keystone Mercy's asthma program, please call Care Coordination at 1-800-537-4100  We want to help you with your asthma.