All the evidence now supports early use of the blue reliever at this stage can stop a mild asthma flare up from becoming an asthma attack. The advice on this website is not to be used instead of seeing your family doctor or going to the hospital. The tricky bit is knowing when to ask […]
By acting quickly at home you might stop the asthma getting worse. You may even stop a hospital admission. Important As soon as you see your child’s warning signs start using their blue inhaler straight away. You will do your child no harm in giving this reliever inhaler and will do a lot of good. […]
The most important thing to do for a worsening asthma is to give the blue reliever inhaler 4 puffs every 4 hours using a spacer. By acting quickly at home, you might stop the asthma attack or symptoms from getting very bad. You might even stop a hospital admission. If there is anything that you […]
How do you identify the source of your child’s breathlessness? If your child is breathless – sit them down. Zone into their breathing and note what they are feeling. Carry out your child’s breathing control exercises for 2 minutes. If they still feel breathless follow their asthma action plan and help them to take their […]
Children can start to understand cause and effect so they start to recognise when they are becoming breathless and what to do about it. Sometimes they will know what triggers to avoid. They can identify how they feel. They can sometimes feel symptoms before we can see them. Listen to them and what they say! […]
Information Remember if your child’s asthma is getting out of control or an attack is coming on, an early sign may be waking at night with coughing or wheezing. Follow your child’s action plan, give them 5 puffs of their blue reliever inhaler and check to see if it helps and how long for. Seek […]
There is a standard method of treating an acute asthma attack. It consists of high dose reliever medication and steroid tablets. The usual reliever drug used is Salbutamol. It is delivered by a spacer device one puff at a time up to 10 times. Salbutamol may be given by nebuliser, there is a standard dose vial […]
It is unlikely that your child would be given a long acting reliever inhaler for asthma alone, it is usually used in combination with a steroid inhaler. Sometimes they are given separately to test the response to the medicine and if this is successful, they would normally be prescribed together in a combination inhaler. Please […]
Please note: These are the most commonly used inhalers at the time of publication of this website. If you do not see your inhaler you can speak to your GP or pharmacist or check the patient information leaflet for your inhaler and medication.
There are 2 basic asthma medicines: Reliever Preventer Relievers: Are usually blue inhalers. Everyone with asthma should have one. Should be taken when asthma symptoms start. Should relieve asthma symptoms for a few (approx. 4-6) hours. Preventers: Are usually brown or orange inhalers. Are inhaled steroids. Steroids help reduce inflammation in the lungs. Preventers reduce […]
