Managing Your Child's Asthma

September can be a triggering month for people with asthma with the change in weather and increase in respiratory infections. With Knoxville being ranked the 29^th most challenging place in the nation to live with asthma (as reported by Asthma and Allergy Foundation in 2024), it's important to know how to avoid triggers and manage your child's asthma.

Common asthma triggers include:

• Respiratory infections, like colds, the flu or COVID-19
• Allergies to things like pollen, mold and pet dander
• Irritants and pollutants in the air, like cigarette smoke or smog
• Weather conditions, like cold and dry air, or hot and humid air
• Strong emotions, like laughing, crying, or feeling stressed
• Exercise

Although triggers are different for each child, respiratory infections are the most common and breathing problems can last day or even weeks after the infection has gone away.

Not only is it important for you to identify triggers but also knowing how to manage it.

• Have a plan and stick to it. Your child should have an asthma action plan. These written instructions from the doctor give clear, step-by-step directions on what medicines to take and when, how to avoid triggers, what to do between flare-ups and how to recognize and manage them if they happen.
• Take medicines as prescribed. Your pediatrician will tell you which medicines your child needs and how to take them.
• Make sure your child gets a yearly flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is recommended for all children ages 6 months and up, especially those with asthma.
• Know the signs of a flare-up. Early warning signs can help you spot a flare-up hours or even a day before obvious symptoms (such as wheezing and coughing) start.
• Use an asthma diary. An asthma diary can help you predict if a flare-up is on its way by allowing you to keep track of asthma symptoms (when they happen), need for medicines and more.

We recommend talking to your child's pediatrician to proactively identify asthma and come up with the right care plan.