Risk Factors

Allergies, tobacco smoke, medications, attitudes, and the environment all affect asthma. Understand how these and other factors can trigger asthma symptoms and what you can do to lower the risk.

Medical Care

Children with asthma should visit their physician regularly, even when they are not experiencing asthma symptoms. Visiting the same physician for follow-up care allows the doctor to monitor the child's asthma health and modify medications as needed.

Environmental

Cockroaches, dust mites, mold, furry pets, rodents and other things found in the house can make a child's asthma worse if he/she is allergic to them. Reducing a child's exposure to the factors to which he/she is allergic can help decrease asthma symptoms.

Adherence

Not adhering with prescribed medication can put your child at serious risk for complications with his/her asthma. Asking your doctor for an asthma care plan will help reduce the number of problems you face when trying to be sure that your child gets his/her medicines. This asthma care plan will tell you exactly what medicine to take, how much of it to take, and when to take it.

Responsibility

Both the child and the caretaker should take responsibility for the child's asthma management. While children should recognize their asthma clues and know what to do in the event of an asthma attack, they should constantly be supervised by an adult, especially when taking their asthma medication.

Child Well-being

Oftentimes children experience sadness and frustration when dealing with their asthma. However, they need to be reassured that they can take charge of their asthma so that they can have a life like other kids that includes running, playing and doing sports like other children.

Adult Well-being

Oftentimes caretakers experience stress from their environment that may prevent them from being able to give as much attention to their child's asthma as they would like. Learning how to better handle stress and having support from family may ultimately help reduce the child's asthma symptoms.

Asthma Attitudes

A child or caretaker's attitude about asthma can affect the severity of the child's asthma symptoms. Therefore, you need to learn as much as you can about asthma and realize that you can do things that can improve your child's problem with asthma. By learning more, you will build your confidence and find that you will be better able to control your child's illness and possibly bring them to be symptom free.