As a parent or caregiver of a child with respiratory symptoms or an asthma diagnosis, it is helpful to go to their medical visits as prepared as possible. Preparation includes listing information about your child’s health that you can share with the provider and knowing which questions to ask.
Before Your Child’s Appointment
- Prepare a list of symptoms your child has had, including the time of day, location, and activities when the symptoms began. It is also important to note when symptoms do not occur.
- Create a list of all medications your child takes or bring all the medicines with you. Medicines taken for other conditions may affect their asthma medication.
- Think about questions the provider may ask you, e.g. Do you have family members who have asthma or allergies?
- Write down questions that you and your child have.
Possible Questions for Your Child’s Healthcare Provider
1. Which medicines should my child take to manage their asthma?
There are two common types of medicine for asthma:
- Quick-relief (sometimes termed rescue) medicine: used to treat symptoms or sometimes taken before exercise or exposure to known triggers.
- Controller medicine: used to prevent asthma flare-ups; typically used every day, even when your child does not have any symptoms.
Your child’s healthcare provider may also prescribe that these medicines be taken together. This is known as SMART therapy.
Source: National Heart, Lung, Blood, Institute, Learn More Breathe Better® Program.
2. Can you give me a written Asthma Action Plan for my child?
An Asthma Action Plan is a chart or written set of directions that tells you and other adults what to do if your child has asthma symptoms, depending on their severity. Your action plan also should tell you or your child what to do when you do NOT feel any symptoms (i.e., preventive care).
The plan will summarize:
- Steps to take daily to help control your child’s asthma
- Actions to take if your child’s asthma symptoms get worse
- Ways to help your child during a severe asthma episode
Share a copy of the completed Asthma Action Plan with your child’s school nurse, teachers, and anyone who regularly spends time with your child (for example grandparents, coaches, and after-school teachers). An Asthma Action Plan is included in the Appendices.
3. What can I do at home to help minimize my child’s asthma symptoms?
Some specific questions related to the home environment:
- Can we have a family pet? In the house or outside? How about in my child’s bedroom?
- Is it okay for anyone to smoke in the house when my child is not in the house?
- Can I vacuum and clean the house when my child is home?
- What type of furniture is best to have?
- Do I need to cover my child’s bed or pillows?
- Can my child have stuffed animals?
4. Does my child need to be tested for allergies?
Allergy testing might show you if there are allergens that could make your child’s asthma worse and that may be good for your child to avoid.
5. Does my child need to see a pulmonologist?
If your child is taking their medications and avoiding triggers, and their asthma still is not under control, their doctor may refer you to a pulmonologist, a doctor who specializes in the respiratory system.
6. How will I know when the inhalers are getting empty? Should my child use a spacer?
Most inhalers have a dose counter that tells you how many puffs are left in the inhaler before it runs out. A good rule of thumb is to get a refill when the inhaler has about one week’s supply remaining.
7. Can you show my child the correct way to use their inhaler?
Your child’s healthcare provider should be able to demonstrate the correct way to use an inhaler. They may also observe your child (or you helping your child) use their inhaler to confirm they are using it correctly. You can also ask the pharmacist to show you the correct way to use an inhaler when picking up the medication from the pharmacy.
8. Can my child play sports or exercise?
When your child’s asthma is under control, playing sports and exercising should not cause problems. Ask your child’s healthcare provider before they start a new physical activity. If your child does have an asthma episode during or right after physical activity, let the doctor know. They may recommend changes to your child’s medication and Asthma Action Plan.
9. How often do you want to see my child for their asthma?
A child with asthma should see a clinician every one to six months. If your child is doing well and their asthma is under control, two visits a year are usually recommended so the doctor can check on your child’s condition and medications. If your child is experiencing asthma symptoms or not able to keep their asthma controlled, more frequent visits are typically needed so you can work together to get it controlled.
Sources: Information for this section was compiled from resources made available by Blue Cross Blue Shield, MyAsthmaTeam.com, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Learn More Breathe Better® program.