Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is asthma? —
This is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. The symptoms can be mild to severe. They can come and go.
An asthma "exacerbation" or "flare" is when asthma symptoms get worse and stay worse. This happens when the airways in the lungs become more narrow and inflamed (figure 1). An asthma "attack" is when symptoms start or worsen suddenly.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Give your child all of their medicines as instructed – These can include:
•Quick-relief medicines – These stop symptoms quickly, in 5 to 15 minutes. Your child might need to use a quick-relief medicine every 4 hours for the first day or 2. After that time, these medicines should only be used once in a while. If your child regularly needs these medicines more than twice a week, tell their doctor. You should also call your child's doctor if this medicine is used for an asthma attack and symptoms come back quickly, or do not get better. Some children get hyperactive and have trouble staying still after taking these medicines.
•Long-term controller medicines – These control asthma and help prevent future attacks. If your child has frequent symptoms or more than 1 asthma flare in a year, they will probably need to take these every day.
•Oral steroids, also called "glucocorticoids" – These reduce swelling and improve breathing in people who are having a severe flare or "attack" of asthma.
Almost all children with asthma use an inhaler with a device called a "spacer." Some children need a machine called a "nebulizer" to breathe in their medicine. The spacer and nebulizer both help get more medicine into the lungs (figure 2). A doctor or nurse will show you how to use these.
●Avoid "triggers" – These are things that make your child's symptoms worse. Common triggers include tobacco smoke, smoke from wildfires, air pollution, allergens (such as dust, mold, pollen, or furry animals), strong chemicals or smells, very cold or dry air, and stress. Exercise can also be a trigger. But do not have your child stop exercising unless they are sick or getting over an exacerbation.
If your child can't avoid certain triggers, talk with their doctor about what they can do. For example, they might need to take an extra dose of their quick-relief inhaler medicine before they exercise or are around things they are allergic to.
●Lower your child's risk of getting sick – In children, viral infections are the most common asthma trigger. Examples include the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.
It's important that children get the COVID-19 vaccine. This lowers the risk of severe illness if they do get COVID-19. They should also get a flu shot every year.
If you think that your child might have an infection, tell their doctor or nurse. They can help you figure out if your child needs treatment.
●Follow your child's "asthma action plan" (form 1) – This is a list of instructions that tell you:
•What medicines your child should use at home each day
•What warning symptoms to watch for (which suggest that asthma is getting worse)
•What other medicines to give your child if their symptoms get worse
•When to get help or call for an ambulance
Ask your child's doctor to help you make an asthma action plan if you don't have one.
●Avoid smoking around your child – Do not lets others smoke near your child. Smoke can stay on clothes and furniture and cause breathing problems. If you are having trouble quitting smoking, your doctor or nurse can help.
What follow-up care does my child need? —
The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child should follow up with their regular doctor. This is usually within 1 week.
If your child needs asthma medicine every day, they should see their doctor or nurse regularly. For many children, this means every 3 to 6 months. At these appointments, they will ask about your child's symptoms, check how well their lungs are working, and talk about their treatment plan.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if your child has severe symptoms, like:
●They have so much trouble breathing that they cannot talk.
●The skin and muscles around their ribs are pulling in with each breath (called "retractions").
●Their lips or fingernails turn gray or blue.
●They are very drowsy or not responding normally.
Call the doctor or nurse for advice if:
●Your child has an asthma attack and their symptoms do not improve, or get worse, after using a quick-relief medicine.
●Your child needs to use their quick-relief medicine more than 2 times a week.
●Your child cannot do their normal activities because of their asthma symptoms.
●You have any questions about your child's medicines.
Patient education: Asthma in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for asthma (The Basics)
Patient education: Avoiding asthma triggers (The Basics)
Patient education: Exercise-induced asthma (The Basics)
Patient education: Asthma action plan for children (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use your child's metered dose inhaler (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use your child's dry powder inhaler (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a nebulizer (The Basics)
Patient education: Asthma symptoms and diagnosis in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Asthma treatment in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Asthma inhaler techniques in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Trigger avoidance in asthma (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Exercise-induced asthma (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: How to use a peak flow meter (Beyond the Basics)
