Managing Childhood Asthma: Tips for Parents
Did you know you can do a lot to help manage your child’s asthma? You want your child to enjoy a life of breathing easier, with fewer asthma attacks. Your pediatrician can help. Dr. Jenny Welham at Island Pediatrics of Honolulu in Honolulu, HI, provides a wide range of pediatric medical services, including diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
What You Need To Know About Childhood Asthma
When your child has asthma, the environment plays a large role in your child’s ability to breathe. You want to make sure your home is free of dust, mold, and other allergens, as much as possible. An asthma episode is often brought about by exposure to an allergen. To keep your child’s environment healthy, you should:
- Install a HEPA filter in your home, especially your child’s bedroom
- Vacuum frequently, or consider switching to hardwood floors
- Keep pets off furniture and out of your child’s bedroom
- Use hypoallergenic bed linens and pillows
You should schedule allergy testing with your pediatrician, to find out what triggers your child’s allergies. When you and your child know what your child is allergic to, you both can take steps to avoid the allergen and a potential asthma attack. Avoiding an allergen isn’t always possible or practical, so your pediatrician may prescribe:
- Allergy shots
- Sublingual immunotherapy
Your pediatrician may also want to test your child’s lung function, to determine the severity of your child’s asthma. To control asthma, your pediatrician may prescribe:
- Short-term rescue inhalers
- Long-term asthma management medications
You should also keep contact information for your pediatrician posted in a highly visible place. You want to be able to contact your pediatrician quickly. Don’t forget that an asthma attack can also be life-threatening. You should call 911 if your child is:
- Unable to speak due to breathing difficulties
- Experiencing deep, labored breathing
- Turning pale due to inadequate breathing
Want To Know More?
To find out more about managing childhood asthma, call Dr. Welham at Island Pediatrics of Honolulu in Honolulu, HI. You can reach her office by calling (808) 944-1844, so call today.
