What is asthma?
Signs of an asthma flare-up
When to go to school or work
What is asthma?
Signs of an asthma flare-up
When to go to school or work
What is asthma?
Signs of an asthma flare-up
When to go to school or work
Talk to your doctor about when you might need to stay home from work or school. Your doctor may say it is OK to go to school or work if you:
Have a stuffy nose but no wheezing, fever or sinus pain Have a little wheezing that goes away after you use your rescue medicine Are able to do normal activities Can breathe without extra effort
Your doctor may suggest that you stay home when you:
Have a fever Have a bad cold Wheeze, cough, are short of breath, or your chest feels tight an hour after taking rescue medicine Feel too weak to do normal activities Are breathing hard or very fast
Asthma is a disease of the lungs. When you have asthma, the airways are very sensitive to many things in the air. The airways may get smaller when you are around things that trigger your asthma. This is called a flare-up.
What happens during an asthma flare-up?
- The airways swell and they become smaller.
- The airways fill with mucus.
- The muscles around the airway tighten and squeeze the airways making them smaller.
Can asthma be cured?
Warning signs
- runny or stuffy nose
- sneezing
- itchy or watery eyes
- itchy or sore throat
- tiredness
Many things can cause an asthma flare-up. They are called triggers. Know your child’s asthma triggers and avoid them.
Time to start rescue medicine
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Noisy breathing
- Chest tightness
- Fast breathing
- For very young children, grunting during sucking or feeding, fussiness, or unusual tiredness
Call your doctor
- Coughing continues
- Wheezing increases
- Vomiting after cough
- Chest tightness
- Fast breathing continues
Danger signs – Go to the E.R. or call 911!
- Lips and fingernails turn grey or blue
- Breathing hard and fast (gasping)
- Nose opens wide when breathing
- Ribs and neck muscles show when breathing
- Hard to talk, walk, eat or drink due to being short of breath
What to do during an asthma flare-up
Talk to your doctor about when you might need to stay home from work or school.
Your doctor may say it is OK to go to school or work if you:
- Have a stuffy nose but no wheezing, fever or sinus pain
- Have a little wheezing that goes away after you use your rescue medicine
- Are able to do normal activities
- Can breathe without extra effort
Your doctor may suggest that you stay home when you:
- Have a fever
- Have a bad cold
- Wheeze, cough, are short of breath, or your chest feels tight an hour after taking rescue medicine
- Feel too weak to do normal activities
- Are breathing hard or very fast
