Asthma

Children living with asthma may experience a tight feeling in their chest, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.  Some children have all of those symptoms and others may have only one or two of the symptoms.  Learning about what triggers asthma and causes a flare up is one important piece to managing symptoms.  Some kids will flare up when they have an illness.  When other people come in contact with environmental allergens like family pets, trees, grass, flowers, dust, mold, and mites they can have a flare up.  Exposure to second hand smoke, and artificial chemical fumes like cleaners air fresheners or perfume can also trigger some people with asthma.  Some children will also be triggered by cold air, or exercise.  Learning what triggers an asthmatic episode and avoiding the triggers if possible  is only one part of preventing a flare up.  Working with your child's health care provider and taking medications as prescribed is an incredibly important part to managing symptoms.

Check out this link for an asthma booklet for children from Children's Mercy Hospital

Register to take a free online asthma basics course through the American Lung Association

 Asthma Action Plan to be completed by the student's health care provider