Asthma Attack
Definition
- Your child is having an asthma attack
- Use this guide only if a doctor has told you your child has asthma
Symptoms
- Symptoms of an asthma attack are wheezing, a cough, tight chest, and trouble breathing.
- Wheezing is the classic symptom. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling or purring sound. You can hear it best when your child is breathing out.
Causes (Triggers) of Asthma Attacks
- Infections that affect breathing (like colds or the flu)
- Pollens
- Animals (like cats)
- Tobacco smoke
- Irritants (such as smog, car exhaust, menthol vapors, barns, dirty basement)
- Asthma attacks caused by food allergy can be life-threatening
Asthma Attack Scale
- Mild: No Shortness of Breath (SOB) at rest. Mild SOB with walking. Can talk normally. Speaks in sentences. Can lay down flat. Wheezes not heard. (GREEN Zone: Peak Flow Rate 80-100% of normal rate)
- Moderate: SOB at rest. Speaks in phrases. Wants to sit (can't lay down flat). Wheezing can be heard. (YELLOW Zone: Peak Flow Rate 50-80% of normal rate)
- Severe: Severe SOB at rest. Speaks in single words. Struggling to breathe. Wheezing may be loud. (RED Zone: Peak Flow Rate less than 50% of normal rate)
First Aid for Anaphylaxis - Epinephrine
- Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction.
- If you have epinephrine (such as Epi-pen), give it now.
- Do this while calling 911.
- Over 66 pounds (30 kg): Give 0.3 mg. Epi-Pen.
- 33-66 pound (15-30 kg): Give 0.15 mg. Epi-Pen Jr.
- Less than 33 pounds (15 kg): Give dose advised by your doctor.
- Give the shot into the upper outer thigh in the leg straight down.
- Can be given through clothing if needed.
- Albuterol inhaler: After giving the Epi-pen, give 4 puffs from your asthma inhaler.
- Benadryl: After giving the Epi-pen, also give Benadryl by mouth. Do this if your child is able to swallow.
When to Call Us for Asthma Attack
Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
Call Us Now (night or day) If
| Call Us During Weekday Office Hours If
| Parent Care at Home If
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CARE ADVICE FOR ASTHMA ATTACK
What You Should Know:- Over 10% of children have asthma.
- Your child's asthma can flare up at any time.
- When you are away from your home, always take your child's medicines with you.
- The sooner you start treatment, the faster your child will feel better.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
- Your child's quick-relief (rescue) medicine is albuterol or xopenex.
- Start it at the first sign of any wheezing, shortness of breath or hard coughing.
- Give by inhaler with a spacer (2 puffs each time) or use a neb machine.
- Repeat it every 4 hours if your child is having any asthma symptoms.
- Never give it more often than 4 hours without talking with your child's doctor.
- Coughing. The best "cough med" for a child with asthma is always the asthma medicine. (Caution: don't use cough suppressants. If over 6 years old, cough drops may help a tickly cough.)
- Caution: If the inhaler hasn't been used in over 7 days, prime it. Test spray it twice into the air before using it for treatment. Also, do this if it is new.
- Use the medicine until your child has not wheezed or coughed for 48 hours.
- Spacer. Always use inhalers with a spacer. It will get twice the amount of medicine into the lungs.
- Your child may have been told to use a controller drug. Examples are inhaled steroids or cromolyn.
- During asthma attacks, keep giving this medicine to your child as ordered.
