Managing Asthma in Children

If your child has asthma, unmanaged symptoms like wheezing and gasping for air not only sound scary, they can also lead to missed days of school, athletic practices, and even hospitalization. While untreated asthma can be dangerous, your child can flourish with proper management of their asthma symptoms.

Allergies and asthma specialist Rainilda Valencia, MD, works with Micaela Marin-Tucker, PA-C, and Megan Reynolds, C-PNP, at Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, to ensure your child’s asthma symptoms remain fully under control. Discover from Dr. Valencia how to manage your child’s asthma in a way that allows them to prosper.

What is asthma?

Childhood asthma occurs in some children when their lungs and airways become inflamed by specific triggers. Asthma triggers vary from child to child and can include allergies, infections, and irritants in the environment.

Your child might have asthma if they find themselves wheezing, coughing frequently, if they experience shortness of breath or gasping for air, or if they experience regular tightness in their chest. Uncontrolled symptoms of asthma can be dangerous, but treatments like a prescription asthma inhaler can help your child manage and significantly reduce symptoms

How to manage your child’s asthma

If your child displays symptoms of asthma or complains of difficulty breathing, make an appointment at Valencia Pediatrics immediately to have your child evaluated. If Dr. Valencia determines your child has asthma, she works with you and your child to help you manage the condition at home.

Here’s what you can do to ensure your child’s asthma stays managed and under control.

Have an asthma treatment plan developed

In collaboration with your family and child, Dr. Valencia and her team develop a treatment plan for your child with asthma. Your child’s treatment plan depends on the specific triggers for their asthma, the severity of those triggers, and your child and family’s specific lifestyle and needs.

An asthma treatment plan can include taking medications, using a prescription asthma inhaler, and following specific strategies that help your child reduce or avoid asthma triggers. Dr. Valencia teaches your family when your child needs to take the inhaler or medications, how to minimize contact with their asthma triggers, when to seek an appointment at Valencia Pediatrics, and when to access emergency care.

Provide clear directions to the adults in your child’s life 

It’s important to communicate your child’s asthma treatment plan to all the adults your child interacts with regularly. Directions should be provided in writing as well as orally. 

Dr. Valencia can assist you by working directly with your child’s school, coaches, and activity leaders to implement your child’s treatment plan. She can also help your school-aged child understand their asthma treatment plan.

Aim to avoid asthma triggers

As part of your child’s asthma evaluation and diagnosis, Dr. Valencia determines the strongest triggers of their asthma, and works with your child and family to develop a plan to reduce exposure to these triggers.

Dr. Valencia often recommends your child avoid or minimize exposure to certain allergens that cause asthma responses. She also recommends children with asthma get an annual flu vaccine, as infectious viruses can trigger asthma symptoms.

Know what to do in emergencies

Managing asthma symptoms usually prevents your child from needing emergency care, but just in case, it’s important your child and the adults in their life know what to do if your child encounters more serious breathing difficulties. This includes knowing when to bring your child to see Dr. Valencia, and when to go straight to the emergency room.

For an asthma diagnosis or assistance managing your child’s asthma, call our office at 442-204-0019 to make an appointment today. We also offer telehealth check-ins.