Asthma Action Plan | |
File Size: | 517 kb |
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Asthma Action Plan--Spanish | |
File Size: | 446 kb |
File Type: |
Self Carry Form | |
File Size: | 41 kb |
File Type: |
Please bring your child's spacer when dropping off their inhaler! More medication is delivered to the lungs when a spacer is used! Even adults should use spacers for proper medication delivery.
Asthma is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
Common asthma symptoms:
Emergency asthma symptoms:
Common asthma symptoms:
- Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
- Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity
- Wheezing
- Coughing during the night
Emergency asthma symptoms:
- Bluish color to the lips and face
- Decreased level of alertness, such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack
- Extreme difficulty breathing
- Rapid pulse
- Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath
- Sweating
Common asthma triggers:
- Animals (pet hair or dander)
- Dust mites
- Certain medicines (aspirin)
- Changes in weather (most often cold weather)
- Chemicals in the air or food
- Exercise
- Mold
- Pollen
- Respiratory infections
- Strong emotions (stress)
- Tobacco smoke (second hand smoking!!)
- Allergies
Treatment of Asthma:
Controller medications--control symptoms (taken daily)
Rescue medications--help with breakthrough symptoms (taken as needed)
Common controller medications--Flovent, Pulmicort, QVAR, Symbicort
**Take these medications daily even if you don't feel sick!**
Common rescue medications--Albuterol, xopenex, Proventil, ProAir
**Take these medications before activity (if prescribed by doctor) and as needed for asthma symptoms
**You shouldn't need every day unless ordered before activity by your doctor
ORANGE ALERT DAYS PROCEDURE:
If a child has asthma or another type of respiratory illness they will be kept indoors on Orange Alert days (Air Quality Alert Days) unless a waiver is on file from the child's physician.
Controller medications--control symptoms (taken daily)
Rescue medications--help with breakthrough symptoms (taken as needed)
Common controller medications--Flovent, Pulmicort, QVAR, Symbicort
**Take these medications daily even if you don't feel sick!**
Common rescue medications--Albuterol, xopenex, Proventil, ProAir
**Take these medications before activity (if prescribed by doctor) and as needed for asthma symptoms
**You shouldn't need every day unless ordered before activity by your doctor
ORANGE ALERT DAYS PROCEDURE:
If a child has asthma or another type of respiratory illness they will be kept indoors on Orange Alert days (Air Quality Alert Days) unless a waiver is on file from the child's physician.