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As a parent you know that something is just not right with the way your child is breathing, but you just can't put your finger on it. You know that asthma has been on the rise in children, and you suspect that your child may have it, but you cannot just be sure. So you take your child to your pediatrician and just as you thought, the child has asthma. As a parent, we have got to take action when this diagnosis is made. What can we do to help our children? How can we make sure that our child's asthma doesn't cause a disability in our children, but just an illness that they have and must watch?

1. Education-education of ourselves and of our children. Find out what triggers your child's asthma. Things that can cause an Asthma Attack include the following, but are in no way limited to these few things:

- Stress or other strong emotions
- Smoking or second hand smoke.
- Irritants such as strong perfumes, strong cleaning agents such as bleach or air pollutions.
- Infections such as the flu, colds, sinus infections and the like.
- Allergens. Allergy season is in full bloom right now. Pollens, molds, pet dander, etc...

2. Medication. What medication regime will be best for our child? What will help
them live as normal and productive life?

Bronchodilators that are commonly prescribed are the following: (this is in no way a complete list. This is a list of those that are most common.)

First of all, fast acting bronchodilators. These can be given via a nebulizer or an MDI (puffer).

Albuterol, Levealbuterol, Ipatroprium Bromide

Long Lasting Bronchodiators:

Spriva, Serevent

Anti inflammatory medications which are corticosteroids:

Flovent, Advair (also contains serevent), pulmicort etc.

It is very important to listen to the doctor and have your child follow it as closely as possible. If you notice that your child is beginning to need more of the fast acting bronchodilators, more of the rescue inhalers, you may need to call the doctor.

3. Doctors-It is important to choose the right doctor for your child. When a child has a lung illness, choose a lung doctor. A pediatric pulmologist, a good pediatric pulmonologist is very important.

4. Asthma Educator. Your hospital should have Respiratory Therapists who are certified Asthma Educators.

5. Psychological affects on the child. If a child is treated like they have a disability, they will soon behave like they have a disability. If a child is treated like they have an annoying chronic illness, but that is all it is, they can go on a lead a normal life. People who have asthma have won Olympic medals.

I am in no way saying not to take asthma seriously. One of the biggest myths surrounding asthma is that it is not a serious illness to have. People's airways may be more reactive than other people's airways, but whenever we are speaking of an illness that has to do with breathing, it is a serious illness. The American Lung Association says, "When you cannot breathe, nothing else matters...". Anyone who has ever had to fight for their next breath knows that this is very true. Asthma, no matter how "mild", should be taken seriously.

Learn more about this author, Renee Dawson.
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