Managing your child’s suspected asthma symptoms

If your child's GP thinks your child might have asthma, they may give them a preventer and a reliever inhaler. Your child should not be given a reliever inhaler on its own.

It's important to follow the inhaler instructions carefully, especially if your child is trying a new treatment. Using their inhaler correctly will ensure your child is receiving the right dose of medication and will help them manage their symptoms.

You can ask your child's GP or pharmacist to show you the best way to use their inhaler (and spacer). We also have tips on helping your child use their inhalers.

Preventer inhaler

Using a preventer inhaler every day can help manage inflammation in your child's airways. They might also have fewer reactions to their usual triggers.

Your child should use their preventer inhaler every day as prescribed, even if they seem well.

If your child is testing a new treatment, taking the medicine exactly as prescribed and keeping an eye on their symptoms will help your child's GP to diagnose asthma. Your child should rinse their mouth well after each use to avoid common side effects.

Reliever inhaler

A reliever inhaler can help when your child's symptoms get worse. They are also called rescue inhalers.

Reliever inhalers contain a medicine that opens the airways to help your child breathe more easily. This gives them quick relief when they have symptoms.

Even though the reliever inhaler helps your child's symptoms, it does not treat inflammation. It's important to keep taking the preventer inhaler as prescribed, as this will help stop your child from getting more symptoms.

Always keep your inhaler somewhere easy to find. Remember to take it with you when your child goes out, so it's ready to use as soon as they need it.

Spacers

Ask your child's GP about a spacer. A spacer helps your child use their inhaler more easily. It also helps your child get the medicine they need more quickly.

No one wants to think about their child having an asthma attack. But it can help to know what to do in advance if they have one. Booking a GP appointment when your child's symptoms are getting worse can help you lower their risk of an asthma attack.

Even if your child has not had their asthma diagnosis confirmed, they could still have an asthma attack. It's best to talk to your child's GP about the symptoms you should look out for and when you should call 999.

Read more about how to help your child if they have an asthma attack.

Using an asthma action plan can help your child stay well. You can use this even if you're waiting for a diagnosis.

Your child's asthma action plan will remind you:

• about their medicines and how often they should use them
• what symptoms to look out for
• what to do if their symptoms get worse
• what to do if your child has an asthma attack.

You can download a child's asthma action plan.

It's important to go to every GP appointment, so you can:

• review any medicines your child is taking
• talk about any worries or concerns
• talk about your child's symptoms and any changes you've noticed
• share your child's symptom diary or calendar
• check your child's asthma action plan is up to date.

If you feel your child's symptoms are getting worse or are not improving, make an appointment as soon as possible.

Bringing your child's inhaler and spacer to the appointment, if they have them, can help the GP understand if they're using them properly.

We understand that it can be hard not being able to say for sure that your child has a confirmed asthma diagnosis. But it's important that anyone spending time with your child understand their symptoms and knows what to do if they get worse.

You could explain that your child has suspected asthma and what that means. You could say: "My child sometimes coughs, wheezes, gets breathless, or has a tight chest. We think this might be due to asthma, but we're waiting for tests to confirm it."

We have more information about how you can best support your child when they have a confirmed asthma diagnosis.