Asthma in Children

What medicines are used to treat asthma?

There are two main groups of asthma medicine, relievers and controllers/preventers.

Relievers: Medicines that work rapidly to open up the narrowed air passages during an asthma attack. They provide quick relief of asthma symptoms and enable your child to breathe better. They are used when needed.

Controllers/preventers: Medicines that work gradually to control the chronic inflammation in the air passages, making them less hyper-responsive (sensitive) to triggers. These medicines need to be used daily if prescribed by the doctor and should only be stopped when advised by the doctor. The period of treatment for each child prescribed with controllers/preventer medicines can range from many months to years, depending on the response and control of your child's asthma.

All children with asthma will be prescribed with a reliever medicine for use during asthma attacks. Some children whose asthma is not well controlled may need to use a controller/preventer medicine daily.

The doctor will be able to assess and advise if your child needs to use a controller/preventer medicine daily.

What else should I take note of?

• Do not expose your child to second hand cigarette smoke and keep your child away from cigarette smoke-filled environments at all times.
• Avoid giving your child cold drinks and citrus fruits when unwell.
• Get your child to rest and avoid exercise during and soon after an asthma attack.
• Consult your doctor if during an asthma attack, your child
  - Remains breathless despite reliever medicines following the asthma action plan by the doctor
  - Is unable to feed or take in fluids well
  - Is unable to speak in complete sentences
  - Is drowsy, unresponsive and lethargic, or irritable and difficult to calm

How to care for the spacer and inhaler

1. Clean your spacer once a week.
2. Soak the spacer completely in mild soapy water made by adding two to three drops of dishwashing liquid into a container of water. Do not use a scrub to clean the spacer. Do not rinse the spacer again after removing it from the soapy water.
3. Allow the spacer to drip dry. Do not use tissue paper or cloth to dry the spacer after washing it.
4. Following the steps above help to reduce the static charge in the spacer and allow for better delivery of the medicine from the inhaler to the lungs.
5. If you need to use the spacer urgently before it is dry after washing, prime the spacer by actuating ten puffs of reliever medication into the spacer after drying it.
6. Wash the plastic holder of the inhaler once a week under warm running water and air dry the plastic holder thoroughly before putting the inhaler back into it for use.

How to use the inhaler with a spacer with mouthpiece/facemask