Get Your Child Allergy Tested
It is estimated that up to 90% of kids with asthma also have some type of allergy, whether it be a food allergy or environmental allergy – or both. Sometimes the allergy may be easy to pinpoint – for example, the symptoms begin immediately after entering a dusty room. But other times, the symptoms may come seemingly out of nowhere, with no change in habits.
So who do you turn to then?
An allergist/immunologist is a physician trained in diagnosing allergies, asthma, and immunologic disorders. Once the disorders are diagnosed, he or she can also help to manage these disorders.
There are a variety of ways to test for allergies, and the allergist will select the best test for your child based on multiple different factors, such as health status, age, and developmental level.
Once you know what your child’s allergies are, you may see a reduction in your child’s asthma symptoms.
Carry Rescue Medications – At All Times
If your child had a known anaphylactic reaction to peanuts, I’d bet that you have an epinephrine pen with you everywhere you go. You may even have several extra pens stashed in your purse or briefcase, your car, and your home, right?
Well, if your child has asthma and you’re not carrying around a rescue inhaler (and encouraging your child to do the same!) you should begin to do so – today!
The problem with not carrying around a rescue inhaler is that an asthma exacerbation can come on suddenly.
For example, if your child is at the mall with you and someone is wearing very strong perfume, that may be all it takes to begin the cascade that sends your child into an all-out asthma attack. Without two to four puffs of the rescue inhaler that opens up the bronchiole tubes, your child may be in the back of an ambulance, heading to the nearest emergency department.
Part of the issue with carrying rescue medication is cost. Albuterol inhalers are expensive.
If you have commercial insurance, call your insurance provider to ask which brand is the preferred medication. At this time, there are no generic albuterol inhalers, so you can also find a copay card and bring it to your pharmacy; this can help drive the cost down of the prescription. Some physicians may even have samples of albuterol inhalers, so it never hurts to ask.
Another issue is that your child may not want to carry the inhaler. A great solution would be to find a small bag or box that can be kept in his or her backpack. This keeps the inhaler discreet but accessible.
Encourage Exercise
Exercise may seem counterintuitive when your child has asthma, but exercise keeps the lungs strong and healthy. A couple of caveats, of course, is when your child is in the midst of an exacerbation and when your child is ill.
When your child’s asthma is under good control, a daily exercise routine is important. Encourage him or her to join the sport of his or her choosing or pick an activity that they enjoy. If your child needs encouragement, you can search online to find a list of famous athletes with asthma.
Encourage Rest
As previously discussed, rest is important if your child is in the midst of an asthma attack or is ill. Rest is also important in maintaining health and preventing illness.
This doesn’t mean that just because your child has asthma that he or she needs to take a daily nap until they turn 13. However, encourage proper sleep hygiene, resting when they are ill, and taking breaks when life gets hectic can go a long way!
Encourage Hand Washing
It is no secret by now that proper hand washing prevents illness. As we’ve discussed, when you have asthma, your immune system is heightened, so washing your hands frequently can prevent illness from occurring – because your immune system is already heightened.
This is so important. The Asthma Society of Canada estimates that proper hand hygiene can reduce disease by 80%. Yes – you read that right. 80 percent.
For a reminder about how to perform proper hand hygiene. The obvious times to wash hands are after using the restroom and when they are visibly dirty. However, remember to wash them after petting the family dog, who tracks in germs from outside, and before preparing meals, and after playing outside yourself!
Advocate for Your Child at School
If your child is school-age, there is no reason to think that they cannot have a normal experience at school. As we previously discussed, encourage your child to wash his or her hands frequently at school to prevent illness.
Also, enlist the help of your child’s physician and school personnel to create a school plan to prevent asthma exacerbations at school, and to treat them, should they occur.
This plan should be shared with the school nurse or coaches (if your child participates in any athletics). If your child is educated, he or she should be able to use their metered-dose inhaler on an as-needed basis and should be able to keep it with them, should the need arise.
