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Asthma


asthma triggers. Your provider should give you a written asthma action plan specifi - cally for your child, including instructions for asthma medicines to be used daily and a plan for short-acting reliever medi- cations to be used during asthma fl are- ups. Flare-ups are more likely to occur in kids who are not taking their prescribed asthma medications regularly. Flare-ups can build up over several days, but can also happen suddenly. However, no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to stop all fl are-ups. The best plan is to be prepared. You should be able to manage mild asthma symptoms at home according to the asthma action plan if your child:


* Has mild asthma symptoms and no dif- fi culty breathing when resting.


* Has only mild diffi culty breathing with activity.


* Has quick relief of asthma symptoms within 15 minutes of using quick-relief


medicine. Keep your


child’s asthma well controlled with prescribed medications and by avoiding triggers


* Has improvement in asthma symptoms within one to two days.


Contact your child’s provider if your child:


* Has no diffi culty breathing at rest but does have asthma symptoms that limit or interfere with activity.


* Has relief from quick-relief medicine but needs it more often than every four


hours.


* Does not have improvement in mild asthma symptoms within one to two days. Go to the local emergency room if your


child:


* Has diffi culty breathing at rest or cannot carry on a full conversation.


* Does not get full relief from quick-relief medicine.


* Works so hard to breathe that the skin is sucked under or between the ribs with breathing (called retractions), or nostrils are fl aring.


Call 911 or local emergency services if your child:


* Has severe trouble breathing and can- not speak.


* Is lethargic. * Appears blue. You are a vital member of your child’s


asthma team. To help manage your child’s asthma, learn the early signs of a fl are-up. Know which medications your child should take and how they should be administered. Have a written plan on how to deal with an asthma fl are-up, and share the plan with those who help care for your child.


Deb Hickman, DNP, RN, CPNP, is a PNP at Sanford Children’s Specialty Clinic, caring for children with asthma and other respiratory problems. She is Co-Chair of NAPNAP’S Asthma and Allergy Special Interest Group.


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