Community Pediatric Asthma Service

If you experience any of the symptoms below, see your family doctor or pediatrician. Your doctor may refer you for a breathing test and prescribe a trial of puffers. Common symptoms of asthma may include:

• cough (especially in the middle of the night) for several weeks after you have a cold
• cough, shortness of breath or wheeze 3 to 5 minutes after the start of vigorous exercise
• cough, shortness of breath or wheeze within 12 hours of being exposed to asthma triggers such as animal dander, smoke, pollen, mould, dust

If you have been diagnosed with asthma and you notice more symptoms than usual,  here are some questions to ask yourself and your doctor.

Is your asthma medicine device not working for you?  Check the following:

• Is your puffer empty, or expired?  Are you using it correctly?  Are you taking enough medicine?  Is your spacer broken?

Are you taking your medicine or are you avoiding it because you are concerned about side effects?

• Discuss this with your doctor, asthma educator or pharmacist
• Two articles of interest:  Why Should I Give My Child Asthma Medicine? and Inhaled Corticosteroids

Are you taking your medicine regularly?

• Inhaled corticosteroids must be taken daily and can take at least two weeks before you see fewer symptoms

Are you following your Asthma Action Plan?

• Did you take action quickly when you started to notice an increase in symptoms?

Watch this short video on Asthma Control  (Children's Allergy & Asthma Education Centre)

Things to expect when you go to your doctor:

• Your doctor will likely send you for a breathing test, known as a spirometry test (children over 6 years of age)
• You may also be given an asthma puffer prescription to try for several weeks, which could be:

          A controller Puffer (Inhaled Corticosteroid): Over time, this medicine will decrease or eliminate symptoms if you have asthma

          A Reliever Puffer: This medicine is used whenever asthma symptoms occur to give quick and temporary relief. It is sometimes used just before exercise

• Asthma Education Session:  Teaching by a health care professional on how to properly use your new puffer
•  You may be given a first draft of your personal Asthma Action Plan.  This plan may change over time and should be reviewed at every visit until it helps you control your asthma. Then review it once a year
• Allergy testing may be recommended if the doctor suspects any allergic triggers. The first step in asthma control is avoiding triggers whenever possible

Two articles of interest:  Why should I give my child asthma medicine?   Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma

You can keep your asthma under control!  The goal for everyone with asthma is CONTROL, even as your asthma changes during the year. For most people, it can really be as simple as:

• Avoid your triggers
• Take your medicine
• Check your device and technique
• Follow your Asthma Action Plan

Once your asthma is well-controlled, these Simple Steps should help you maintain good control throughout the year, despite a change of season or the common cold.

Note:  For a PDF copy of our Roadmap to Asthma Control, click here.