If your child has asthma, the goal of treatment is to prevent or reduce symptoms so they can fully take part in daily activities. It is also important to prevent emergency department visits and hospital stays caused by asthma flare-ups.
The best way to do this is to control symptoms by avoiding and managing triggers and taking asthma medication as directed. Some children may need medicine every day to manage their asthma symptoms. Other children may need medicine only as needed for their symptoms. Learn more here.
Which are the best asthma medicines for your child?
Each child's asthma symptoms are different, and symptoms can change over time. Your child's doctor will determine which asthma medicine is best for your child, based on how severe your child's symptoms are and how often they have symptoms. Medicines may also vary depending on your child's age.
Children with asthma whose symptoms occur occasionally are given medicines only as needed, and usually for short periods. Children with asthma whose symptoms occur more often need to take a different kind of medicine every day to control and prevent their symptoms. Sometimes several medicines need to be taken at the same time to control and prevent symptoms.
Asthma medicines, like all medications, should be kept out of reach of young children when they're not being used (
up high or locked up). Also, expiration dates of medicines should be checked regularly.
Different forms of asthma medicine
Asthma medications come in a variety of forms, such as:
Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) or "puffers." These are generally given with a spacer, or holding chamber, to improve delivery of medicine. Depending on the age of the child, a mask to attach to the spacer and inhaler might also be needed.
Dry-powder inhalers (DPIs).
Liquids that can be used in nebulizer machines.
Liquids that are taken by mouth.
Tablets, chewable tablets and pills.
Biologic injections.
Note: Inhaled forms deliver the medication directly the air passages with minimal side effects.
Groups of asthma medicines: treat or prevent symptoms
There are two groups of asthma medicines: quick relief medications to treat symptoms, and controller medicines to prevent symptoms.
- Quick-relief medications are taken for short-term use as needed. They are also called rescue or reliever medicine. They aim to open narrowed airways and to help relieve symptoms such as wheezing, increase in coughing, shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest. They can also be used to prevent exercise-induced asthma. See types and examples of quick-relief medicines for asthma here.
- Controller medications are for daily use to control asthma and prevent symptoms. They aim to reduce inflammation or cause relaxation of airway muscles over time. Children with symptoms and/or who use albuterol more than twice per week—or who wake up from sleep more than twice per month—should take controller medicines (or see their doctor to have their treatment adjusted). See types and examples of controller medicines for asthma here.
SMART: quick-relief & controller medicine combined
If your child is 4 years or older, the doctor may recommend single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART), or maintenance and reliever therapy (MART). Instead of using an inhaled steroid every day plus a second quick-relief medicine as needed, SMART involves just one combination inhaler that contains a
corticosteroid and medicine called
formoterol. This combination relieves asthma symptoms quickly and help keep it under control. The advantages of SMART include only needing one inhaler and overall decreased exposure to oral corticosteroids.
Your child's asthma action plan
Everyone with asthma should have a personalized, written asthma action plan. The plan shows your child's treatment information, such as what kind of medicines they take and when they take them. It also describes how to control asthma long term and how to handle an asthma flare-up. In addition, it explains when to call your child's doctor or go to the emergency room.
Anyone caring for your child, including teachers, should receive a copy of the plan. If a child divides time between multiple caregivers, fully inform all of them about asthma and your child's medicine.
Because asthma can change from time to time, your child's asthma action plan may need to change as well. Medicine doses may need to be increased or decreased. Remember to contact your child's doctor and report any changes in how your child is doing on their current dose.
Remember
Asthma medicines play an important part in preventing and managing asthma symptoms. They are safe and effective if used as directed. Regular use of asthma medicines works to manage inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma flare-ups. When used at the correct does, daily medicines do not lose their effectiveness or cause uncomfortable side effects.
Your child's doctor will recommend follow-up visits to check how they are doing with their asthma. Don't skip these visits. Continue to meet with your child's doctor even when your child's asthma is doing well.
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