Asthma is a deadly disease and can be difficult to treat in small children. If your child has recently been diagnosed with Asthma or if you suspect that your child may have this disease, then it is crucial that you work with your Pediatrician to construct a Asthma management plan for both your home and school.

An asthma action plan will help alert those who spend time with your child (teachers, babysitters, grandparents, ect) to the signs they need to watch out for.

Not every child reacts to their asthma in the exact same way. A plan will help you and others to be aware to your child's paticular symptoms. Some of these symptoms may include:

* Dry Hacking Cough
* Difficulty Breathing
* Wheezing
* Chest Retractions
* Gray or Blue complexion
* Extreme Fatigue and listlessness

Some of these symptoms may appear at the first sign of trouble, others may indicate an emergency. It is important to have these the signs listed.

You will also want to list specific triggers (allergens such as dust mites, animal dander, air pollution, colds)

Your doctor will work with you to help you manage each stage of your child's asthma.

For an example of a asthma management plan, I will use my son's as an example. He takes a daily medication to control his asthma symptoms(Pulmicort). On high pollution days he stays indoors. At the earliest signs of wheezing he takes Prednisilone. If these medications do not control his asthma. If he has a persistent cough or begins wheezing he will also use a nebulizer for his Albuterol treatments.

The signs that he is in danger and needs to go to the emergency room are gray skin and chest retractions. We normally treat him at home for as long as we possibly can before going to the ER.

The nurse at his school has a copy of his management plan. There is no cure for asthma but the good news is that it does get easier to manage each year.

However, I would suggest that even if your child has not had an attack for several years that you keep a management plan current and on file with all care providers just to be on the safe side.

Learn more about this author, Angela Chavez.
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