Talking to your child's GP about asthma

Your child's GP is there to help you. Writing down any questions you have as you think of them can be helpful. You can ask your child's GP about these during the appointment.

During an appointment, your child's GP will ask you some questions about their symptoms. Your answers will help them decide if it's likely your child has asthma. They can also rule out other conditions which can cause coughing and wheezing.

Thinking about your child, you GP may ask:

• when did you first notice their symptoms?
• were they born early (before their due date)?
• were they born with a low birth weight?
• does anyone in their home smoke?
• did you or their mother smoke during pregnancy?
• do they or anyone else in their family have asthma, eczema, hay fever or other allergies?
• do they live on a busy main road? Find out more about the effect of air pollution on your lungs
• is there damp and mould in their home? Find out more about air pollution and allergies at home
• have they ever had bronchiolitis or croup?
• have they taken time off school or activities due to their symptoms?
• have you noticed any change in their mood?

Your child's GP might suggest you watch and wait if your child has mild symptoms that come and go. For example, if they start wheezing with a cold.

Keeping a note of your child's symptoms and when they get them in a symptom diary can help your child's GP understand more about your child's condition over time.

If your child is under five, asthma tests are not usually offered. The GP might give your child an asthma inhaler to see if it helps relieve their symptoms until they're old enough to have the tests. Your child might also be given an inhaler if they're very unwell.

Your child's GP might say your child has suspected asthma if they think your child might have asthma.

This is based on their symptoms, what you've told them about your child and their family history. But to confirm a diagnosis, they'll need to do some tests.

Getting an asthma diagnosis can take time and asthma is different for everyone.

Your child's GP will do some tests to help confirm an asthma diagnosis:

• If your child is over five, they can try the asthma tests to see how their lungs are working.
• If your child is under five or unable to do the tests, their GP will treat their condition based on their symptoms. Even if your child has been getting on well with their treatment, having the asthma tests when they're able to is still important.

Your child's symptoms, how often they get them, their family history and test results are all an important part of the diagnosis.

Remember our friendly team are always here to support and advise you on our Helpline.