Parents have to learn a whole lot about this chronic health condition really quickly when their children are diagnosed with asthma. And then there are the things they learn only from experience. “I remember how overwhelming it was early on,” says Leanne Haynes, an Arlington, Texas, mother whose 10-year-old son was diagnosed with asthma when he was two years old. “Early on, it was incredibly scary, and I remember that. And I feel for all the new (parents) who are trying to navigate this. It is scary. But they can do it.” Here’s what parents of children with asthma (and their doctors) want you to know about what it’s really like having a child with this particular health condition.
There’s a lot of paperwork involved
Every year when school starts, you have to fill out paperwork. And when you have a kid with asthma, there’s even more paperwork to fill out. You may have a stack of paperwork about your child’s health and their medications that you have to submit to the school nurse. But there’s a good reason for that. “You have to make sure that the medications that they keep at school are current, that they’re not expired,” says Dr. Luis Torero, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist with Northwestern Medicine’s Regional Medical Group.
You need to make sure all the right people know about your child’s asthma
It really does take a village of people who know about your child’s asthma and are able to spring into action when necessary. Your child’s teachers, daycare providers, and coaches all should have a copy of your child’s asthma action plan, just in case. “I created my own master sheet for daycares, schools, sitters and immediate family members of their morning and afternoon medicine routines,” says Christine Michel Carter, an author and the Baltimore area and mother of two children with asthma. “I had to ensure that they could all identify signs my children might be having an asthma or allergy attack.” “Good communication with the school nurse and teachers is key,” agrees Becky Pittman, a Little Rock, Arkansas, mother whose 11-year-old son was diagnosed with asthma about a year ago.
You’re constantly watching out for triggers
Pollen, smoke, dust, pet dander, mold … the list of potential asthma attack triggers is lengthy. Some kids are more prone to having a flare-up after having a viral infection, like a cold. Physical activity can be a trigger for other kids. Whatever is your child’s trigger, that’s what you need to be vigilant about. “It’s ragweed season right now,” Pittman says with an air of resignation in her voice. She notes that her son is currently taking Zyrtec, which is an antihistamine, in the morning, along with Flonase (an inhaled corticosteroid), to combat his allergies, along with his usual asthma medication. “We’ve managed pretty well like that.” Even so, he recently had an asthma attack after playing outside at school and had to use his rescue inhaler. Those things can happen. But staying on top of the triggers can help everyone be better prepared.
Sports require more advanced planning—but they’re still possible
Your football-loving son or your soccer-loving daughter adamantly refuses to give up their time on the field. And the good news is that they can keep on playing the sports they love as long as their asthma is managed correctly. That means your child needs to be diligent about taking their control or maintenance medication every day as prescribed, and they may also need to take medication right before exercising. Endurance sports like cross country may be a little more challenging to manage, and so can cold-weather sports.
Winter can be stressful.
Actually, any season can be stressful when you have a child with asthma, since asthma can’t exactly read a calendar. But winter is often stressful for parents because cold, dry air is a very common trigger for asthma. Haynes has had to make sure that her son doesn’t go outside for recess in the winter because the cold exacerbates his asthma too much. And he plays indoor sports like basketball in the winter, too, so he can avoid being out in the cold air.
Extra preparation is necessary for trips and vacations
Planning to head out of town? Don’t forget to pack your child’s asthma medications, including the preventive meds and their rescue inhaler. And if you’re planning to send your child to camp, you might want to ask well in advance what’s required. Patricia Hall, a Nashville mother of a 14-year-old son with asthma, learned that she would have to supply a brand-new, sealed box containing her son’s inhaler to the staff nurse when her son went camping. The nurse checked in each child’s medication and required unopened packaging so she could verify that the medication was correct and current.
You have to stay on top of the medication supply
Inhalers have a finite number of doses, and it’s all too easy to forget to check the counter until the inhaler’s almost empty. Then you panic because you know you need to get a replacement ASAP, but you don’t have time to swing by the drugstore. Don’t let this happen to you, Haynes says. Life can get crazy, but this is one task to prioritize. Your child needs this medication, and they can’t wait. “If you have a prescription, and you’re down to 20 puffs left, you should just refill yours and be prepared,” she says. And if you can keep a backup inhaler on hand, that’s also a good idea. Just in case. “You absolutely need an extra one,” says Haynes.
Sometimes you might need to be overprotective
Asthma is a very serious condition. And it is especially serious for Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people. For example, Black people are disproportionately more likely than white people to be diagnosed with asthma and to experience worse outcomes with asthma, according to the AAFA. “The advice I would give to other parents of children with asthma, especially Black parents, is to be overprotective,” says Carter.“Don’t care what other parents, teachers, family members, etc. think of your meticulousness. I was following my son’s recommended treatment plan for days before he had his asthma attack. I decided to take him to the pediatrician anyway and found out I was a couple of hours away from him dying. It was a terrifying experience.”
Sometimes asthma attacks happen anyway
“Asthma attacks are very unpredictable,” notes Dr. Joi Lucas, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist in Orland and the author of Your Roadmap to Successful Asthma Treatment: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing for Your Child’s Doctor Visits and Long-Term Care Sometimes, they just happen, no matter how well you and your child are managing their asthma. It can be frustrating, but the best thing you can do is act quickly to implement the asthma action plan, with the steps directed by your child’s doctor. And occasionally, the rescue inhaler might not be enough to halt an asthma attack. That’s when you might have to pick up your child and head the emergency department or the urgent care center. Next up: Watch Out! Fall Activities Can Trigger Allergy and Asthma Attacks—Here’s How to Be Prepared
Sources
Christine Michel Carter, parent and author.Patricia Hall, parentLeanne Haynes, parentJoi Lucas, MD, pediatric pulmonologist and author.Becky Pittman, parentLuis Torero, MD. Northwestern Medicine’s Regional Medical Group.Asthma Disparities in America. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).Asthma Facts and Figures. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).Can Kids and Teens With Asthma Play Sports?Nemours.Can the Weather Affect My Child’s Asthma?Nemours.
