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Asthma Attack

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Does this describe your child's symptoms?

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How to Use a Dry Powder Inhaler
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Definition

  • Child is having an asthma attack

  • Don't use this guideline unless the child was previously diagnosed as having asthma, asthmatic bronchitis or reactive airway disease by a physician

Main Symptom

  • A wheeze or whistling (purring) sound on breathing out is the classic symptom

  • Coughing may be the first symptom of an asthma attack

Causes (Triggers) of Asthma Attacks

  • Viral respiratory infections

  • Animal contact (especially cats)

  • Tobacco smoke or menthol vapors

  • Pollens

  • Air pollution (e.g., barn, circus, wood stove, dirty basement)

Severity of an Asthma Attack

  • Mild: no Shortness of Breath (SOB) at rest, mild SOB with walking, speaks normally in sentences, can lay down flat, wheezes only heard by stethoscope (GREEN Zone: Peak Flow Rate 80-100% of baseline level or personal best)

  • Moderate: SOB at rest, speaks in phrases, prefers to sit (can't lay down flat), audible wheezing  (YELLOW Zone: Peak Flow Rate 50-80% of baseline level)

  • Severe: severe SOB at rest, speaks in single words (struggling to breathe), usually loud wheezing or sometimes minimal wheezing because of decreased air movement (RED Zone: Peak Flow Rate less than 50% of baseline level)

If not, see these topics

  • No previous asthma diagnosis or use of asthma medicines, see WHEEZING

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When to Call Your Doctor

call 911

Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If

  • Severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, unable to speak or cry because of difficulty breathing, making grunting noises with each breath)

  • Your child passed out or has bluish lips/tongue

  • Wheezing started suddenly after medicine, an allergic food or bee sting

call now

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

  • Your child looks or acts very sick

  • Looks like he did when hospitalized before with asthma

  • Difficulty breathing not resolved 20 minutes after neb or inhaler

  • Peak flow rate lower than 50% of baseline level (personal best) (RED Zone)

  • Peak flow rate 50-80% of baseline level after using neb or inhaler (YELLOW Zone)

  • Wheezing (heard across the room) not resolved 20 minutes after using neb or inhaler

  • Continuous (nonstop) coughing that keeps from playing or sleeping and not improved after using neb or inhaler

  • Severe chest pain

  • Asthma medicine (neb or inhaler) is needed more frequently than every 4 hours

  • Fever over 104° F (40° C) and not improved 2 hours after fever medicine

  • You think your child needs to be seen urgently

call within 24 hours

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

  • You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently

  • Mild wheezing persists over 24 hours on treatment

  • Sinus pain (not just congestion)

  • Fever present for more than 3 days

  • Fever returns after gone for over 24 hours

call within 24 hours

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

  • You have other questions or concerns

  • Don't have written asthma action plan

  • Uses an inhaler, but doesn't have a spacer

  • Missing more than 1 day of school/month for asthma

  • Asthma limits exercise or sports

  • Asthma attacks frequently awaken from sleep

  • Uses more than 1 inhaler/month

  • No asthma check-up in over 1 year

home care

Parent Care at Home If

  • Mild asthma attack and you don't think your child needs to be seen

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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR ASTHMA ATTACK

  1. Asthma Rescue Medicine:

    • Start your child's quick relief medicine (e.g., albuterol inhaler or nebs) at the first sign of any coughing or shortness of breath (don't wait for wheezing). (Reason: Early treatment shortens the asthma attack).

    • The best "cough medicine" for a child with asthma is always the asthma medicine.

    • Follow your child's action plan for asthma attacks.

    • For albuterol inhalers, give 2 puffs separated by a few minutes, every 4 to 6 hours.

    • Caution: if the inhaler hasn't been used in over 7 days or is new, test spray it twice into the air before using it for treatment.

    • Continue the asthma rescue medicine until your child has not wheezed or coughed for 48 hours.

    • Spacer: Always use inhalers with a spacer. It will double the amount of medicine that gets to the lungs.

  2. Asthma Controller Medicine: If your child is using a controller medicine (e.g., inhaled steroids or cromolyn), continue to give it as directed.

  3. Hay Fever: For nose allergy symptoms, it's OK to give antihistamines. (Reason: poor control of nasal allergies makes asthma symptoms worse)

  4. Fluids: Encourage drinking normal amounts of clear fluids (e.g., water) (Reason: keeps the lung mucus from becoming sticky).

  5. Humidifier: If the air is dry, use a humidifier (Reason: to prevent drying of the upper airway).

  6. Avoid or Remove Allergens: Give a shower to remove pollens, animal dander, or other allergens from the body and hair. Avoid known triggers of asthma attacks (e.g., tobacco smoke, feather pillows). Avoid exercise during the attack.

  7. Expected Course: If treatment is started early, most asthma attacks are quickly brought under control. All wheezing should be gone by 5 days.

  8. Call Your Doctor If:

    • Difficulty breathing occurs

    • Inhaled asthma medicine (neb or inhaler) is needed more often than every 4 hours

    • Wheezing persists over 24 hours

    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Online Medical Reviewer: Louise Akin, RN, BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Daphne Pierce-Smith, RN, MSN, FNP, CCRC
Last Review Date: 2/21/2012
© 2000-2013 Krames StayWell, 780 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.