As a parent, the task of making sure a child with asthma understands his or her medication falls to you — ready or not. Once you master what different asthma medications do, you’ll be better prepared to keep tabs on whether your child knows when and how to use them independently.

Asthma medications come in two basic categories: long-term control (or controller) medications and quick-relief (also called rescue or reliever) medications. Taking long-term control and quick-relief medications at the right time is crucial to asthma management. If you aren’t sure which of your child’s medications are for long-term control and which are rescue medications (for asthma episodes), call your health care provider and ask. You should also know the prescribed dosage of each (how many puffs of an inhaler are needed, for example).

If both a child and an adult in the home have asthma, make sure your child’s inhaler is clearly labeled. You don’t want him or her puffing someone else’s inhaler by mistake. Bright, shiny stickers or a colorful inhaler cover can mark a child’s inhaler more clearly than just a name.

Long-term control medications

Controlling the underlying inflammation of your child’s airways is more important than simply relieving symptoms. If your child has persistent asthma (mild or severe), your health care provider will probably prescribe daily doses of anti-inflammatory medicines, a long-acting bronchodilator, or both. The child’s asthma management plan should spell out how often he or she should take the long-term control medication.

Long-term control medication should not substitute for short-acting rescue medication, especially in an emergency. If your child needs both an inhaled long-term control and an inhaled quick-relief medication, make sure it’s obvious to him or her (and you) which inhaler is which. Inhaler covers of different colors are easier for kids to understand than written labels.

Quick-relief medications

Fast-acting rescue medications provide quick relief when your child needs it most — when warning signs show that an episode is likely. Most quick-relief medications don’t reduce underlying airway inflammation. They ease symptoms by relaxing and opening constricted airways. These medications are most often inhaled, since inhalation delivers exact doses directly to the lungs quickly. Quick-relief medications (with the exception of steroids) are taken as needed, based on a series of warning signs and symptoms outlined in the child’s asthma action plan.

Attitude counts

As with most parenting tasks, your attitude when helping with asthma medication makes a difference in the child’s comfort level with the new skill. Stay relaxed and act as naturally as possible. You’ve probably noticed how your feelings affect a child the first time you hire a new sitter, for example. When a parent acts with assurance, the child knows the new situation is safe. The same idea applies to medication.

On the other hand, when a parent hesitates and fusses, the child starts experiencing doubts about the situation. The goal is to treat asthma medication as a matter-of-fact part of daily life. When a parent acts with confidence, the child will more quickly learn the independent self-care skills required to manage asthma successfully.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 11:09 am and is filed under Kids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.