Causes (2)
- Dust mite allergy
- Pet allergy
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Asthma in children: Creating an asthma action plan
Prevention (1)
- Asthma: Limit asthma attacks caused by colds or flu
Risk factors (1)
- Smoking and pregnancy: Understand the risks
Tests and diagnosis (2)
- Peak flow meter
- Spirometry
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Treating asthma in children under 5
- Treating asthma in children ages 5 to 11
- Treating asthma in children ages 12 and older
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Treating asthma in children ages 12 and older
Treating asthma in children ages 12 and older requires different steps than in younger children. Get tips on symptoms, medications and using an asthma action plan.
By Mayo Clinic staffAsthma in older children can interfere with sleep, school, sports and social activities. But proper asthma treatment in children can keep symptoms at bay.
Asthma can't be cured, but you and your child can reduce symptoms by following an asthma action plan. This is a written plan you and your child develop with your child's doctor to track symptoms and adjust treatment.
Asthma treatment in children improves day-to-day breathing, reduces asthma flare-ups and lessens disruptions caused by the condition. By learning to avoid triggers, track symptoms and manage medications, even severe asthma can be kept under control.
Asthma symptoms in children ages 12 and older
Common asthma symptoms in children ages 12 and older include:
- Coughing, particularly at night
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness or discomfort
- Avoiding sports or physical activities because of symptoms
Some children have few day-to-day symptoms, but have severe asthma attacks now and then. Other children have mild symptoms or symptoms that get worse at certain times. You may notice that your child's asthma symptoms get worse at night, with activity, when your child has a cold, or with triggers such as cigarette smoke or seasonal allergies.
Asthma emergencies
Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require emergency room treatment. Signs and symptoms of an asthma emergency in children ages 12 and older include:
- Significant trouble breathing
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- No improvement even after using a quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol
- Shortness of breath during minimal physical activity
- Peak flow meter readings in the red zone
Tests to diagnose and monitor asthma
For older children, doctors can diagnose and monitor asthma with the same tests used for adults. Lung function (spirometry) tests measure how quickly and how much air your child can exhale, an indication of how well the lungs are working.
Your child's doctor may be able to check for inflammation in your child's airways with a test that measures levels of nitric oxide gas in the breath. In general, higher levels of nitric oxide mean your child's lungs aren't working as well as they should be, and asthma isn't under control.
Using a peak flow meter
The doctor may give your child a portable, hand-held device (peak flow meter) to measure how well his or her lungs are working. A peak flow meter measures how much air your child can quickly exhale. Low readings indicate worsening asthma. You and your child may notice low peak flow readings before symptoms become apparent. This will help you recognize when to adjust treatment to prevent an asthma flare-up.
(1 of 2)
- Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma: Summary report 2007. Bethesda, Md.: National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed Dec. 1, 2010.
- Boguniewicz M, et al. Allergic disorders. In: Hay WW, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3409411. Accessed Dec. 1, 2010.
- Liu AH. Childhood asthma. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/10te0024376-12/727446153/1608/440.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50145-6--cesec11_3422. Accessed Nov. 22, 2010.
- Robinson PD, et al. Asthma in childhood. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2009;56:191.
- Updated information on leukotriene inhibitors: Montelukast (marketed as Singulair), zafirlukast (marketed as Accolate), and zileuton (marketed as Zyflo and Zyflo CR). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm165489.htm. Accessed Nov. 22, 2010.
- FDA drug safety communication: New safety requirements for long-acting inhaled asthma medications called long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm200776.htm. Accessed Nov. 22, 2010.
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