For Parents

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs.  It affects over seven million children in the United States (about 10% of children under age 17).  Asthma causes episodes of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.  If not controlled, these episodes can lead to visits to the doctor, trips to an emergency room, and in some cases, overnight hospital stays.

How Can I tell if my child has asthma?

There are several “key indicators” that are often present in asthma.  They are:

• A history of recurrent wheezing that responds to treatment
• Chronic cough, usually worse at night and/or with activity
• Wheezing that has been observed by a health care provider that improves with the use of an asthma rescue medication (albuterol, or similar medication, in a puffer or with an aerosol treatment)
• Repeated episodes of shortness of breath, or chest tightness, that may occur with colds, exposure to allergens, or activity

Call our office to schedule an appointment if you feel that your child has any of the above key indicators of asthma.

If your child does have asthma, here are some resources to help you:

The asthma control test (ACT): This “test” lets you see how well your child’s asthma is controlled by a series of questions.  Click here to answer the questions.  Bring the results to your next appointment, or schedule an appointment if indicated.

Asthma Education and Self-Management

Download our asthma information handout, and learn about asthma triggers, asthma medications, and how to manage asthma in your child or yourself

Asthma Action Plans

Every asthma patient should have an Asthma Action Plan, and you should go over this plan with your child’s physician. Click on one of the links below to print out an asthma action plan, and bring it with you to your next visit to our office.

Asthma Action Plan for patients who use albuterol

Asthma Action Plan for patients who use Xopenex

Helpful, Reliable Asthma Web Sites

The Central Ohio Breathing Association

Asthma Information from Healthychildren.org

Spirometry

If you child is five years old or older, then she/he can take a spirometry test.  This test is used to help us find out if your child has asthma.  If you already know your child has asthma, then he/she should have spirometry done regularly to help us find out if the asthma is in good control.  Call our office to schedule a spirometry visit with our respiratory therapist.