Asthma

Articles In This Section

• Asthma Center

  Asthma keeps more kids home from school than any other chronic illness. Learn how to help your child manage the condition, stay healthy, and stay in school.

• Inhaler or Nebulizer: Which One Should My Child Use?

  Nebulizers and inhalers deliver asthma medicine to the lungs, and they work equally well when the correct technique is used.

• Traveling and Asthma

  With some careful preparation, kids with asthma should be able to enjoy all the benefits of a trip away from home.

• Creating an Asthma-Safe Home

  If your child has asthma, you can create the best home environment possible by knowing about asthma triggers and eliminating or minimizing exposure to them.

• School and Asthma

  An estimated 9 million kids under age 18 have asthma and 14 million days of school are missed each year because of the condition. But well-managed asthma is far less likely to result in a sick day.

• Can the Weather Affect My Child’s Asthma?

  While the effect of weather on asthma symptoms isn't fully understood, some kids' symptoms get worse at specific times of year or during a severe storm or sudden weather change.

• Can Kids and Teens With Asthma Play Sports?

  You might remember a time when kids who had asthma were discouraged from playing sports and told to take it easy. That's no longer the case.

• Exercise-Induced Asthma

  Many kids with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. But with careful management, they usually can do anything their peers can do.

• Dealing With Asthma Triggers

  Triggers - substances, weather conditions, or activities - can lead to flare-ups in kids with asthma. By knowing and avoiding triggers, you'll help minimize your child's asthma symptoms.

• Handling an Asthma Flare-Up

  Because they can be life threatening, asthma flare-ups can and should be treated at their earliest stages. So it's important to recognize their early warning signs.

• What’s a Peak Flow Meter?

  An inexpensive, portable device called a peak flow meter measures lung function in kids with asthma, which can help them manage the condition and avoid major flare-ups.

• When to Go to the ER if Your Child Has Asthma

  If your child has asthma, it's important to know when going to the ER is the right choice.

• What’s the Difference Between a Nebulizer and an Inhaler?

  Inhalers and nebulizers are two different devices used to get rescue or controller asthma medications directly into the lungs. Find out how they work.

• What’s an Asthma Action Plan?

  An asthma action plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you develop with your child's doctor to help control your child's asthma.

• What’s an Asthma Flare-Up?

  When symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, become more severe, more frequent, or both, it's known as an asthma flare-up.

• If My Child Has Asthma, Can We Keep Our Pet?

  At least 30% of people with asthma are allergic to animals. So if your child has asthma, consider whether your pet could be producing allergens that trigger asthma symptoms.

• What’s the Difference Between Quick-Relief and Long-Term Control Medicines?

  Asthma medicine comes in two main types: quick-relief and long-term control medicines. Even if a child takes a long-term control medicine regularly, quick-relief medicine is still needed to handle flare-ups.

• Wheezing and Asthma in Infants

  If your infant wheezes while battling a cold, you may be wondering if the problem is asthma. But it's not always clear if a baby has asthma.

• Managing Asthma

  Asthma control can take a little time and energy to master, but it's worth the effort. Learn more about ways to manage your child's asthma.

• Asthma Basics

  With the right asthma management plan, families can learn to control symptoms and asthma flare-ups more independently, allowing kids to do just about anything they want.

• Asthma and Teens

  The teen years can be rough for kids, and they can be even rougher for teens with asthma. These tips can make parenting a teen with asthma a bit easier.