Asthma

Asthma is a common lung condition that can cause breathing problems. It often starts in childhood and there is currently no cure. Simple treatments can help keep the symptoms under control. Many children diagnosed with asthma grow out of it. Asthma UK states that around 5.4 million people receive treatment for the disease.

An asthma attack is a reaction in the lungs. Muscles surrounding the wind pipes can go into spasm and constrict. This can make it very hard to breathe. Sometimes it can be caused by a trigger such as dust, pollen, tobacco, exercise, stress or infection like colds or flu. 

Most asthma patients carry an inhaler to help relieve the condition. Check the details with the child’s parents or guardians if a child in your care has the condition. It is usually the blue inhaler for emergency use to open up the wind pipes.

 Identifying and avoiding the child’s asthma triggers can help keep symptoms under control.

Recognition

• Difficulty breathing and speaking
• Wheezy breath 
• Coughing
• Tightness in chest
• Child may complain of a stomach or chest ache
• Pale, clammy skin. 
• Severe attacks can cause grey or blue lips
• Exhaustion 
• Unconsciousness and breathing may stop if attack is prolonged

Treatment

• Calm and reassure the child
• Assist the child to sit upright, leaning on a table or chairs if needed
• If the child has an inhaler help them to use it
• They should take one puff of their reliever inhaler every 30-60 seconds for up to 10 puffs
• Make light conversation to distract them from the attack

Call 999/112 if;

Do not take the child outside as cold air can make the attack worse. Only lay the child down if they become unconscious. 

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