Once a child has been diagnosed with asthma, a physician will develop an asthma action plan to help parents monitor the condition so they know when medical care is required. A typical plan will contain the following elements:

• A list of specific symptoms that often precede a child’s asthma attacks
  
  
• Steps to take during an attack
  
  
• How to recognize a serious attack, and what to do about it
  
  
• How to recognize an emergency
  
  
• A plan for addressing any asthma-related complications that may arise while a child is at school or participating in athletics

Treatment of asthma in children, as well as adults, has two main goals: prevent or reduce inflammation and relax the smooth muscles that tighten during bronchospasm. A number of medications may be used for this purpose and their use is similar in children as with adults. Asthma medications fall into two categories:

• Quick-relief medications. These are designed to instantly relieve the symptoms of an asthma attack.
  
  
• Long-term-control medications. These are designed to minimize inflammation and prevent asthma flare-ups before they occur.

Asthma medications can be delivered either in pill form, liquid form or through an inhaler or nebulizer, which allows the drug to travel directly to the bronchial tubes while minimizing the effect on the rest of the body.

However, some children feel stigmatized by having to carry and use an inhaler as part of their regular therapy. Parents need to patiently explain the benefits of these medications and the importance of using them regularly. It might help to point out that many celebrities, including movie stars and athletes use inhalers to treat their own asthma. For more information, see Tips for parents.

Bronchodilators are the primary class of medications used to treat acute asthma in children and adults. These widen a person’s airways by relaxing the bronchial smooth muscle. Other asthma medications prevent attacks and include corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers and leukotriene modifiers.

Inhaled steroid nasal sprays are commonly prescribed as an effective treatment for the inflammation associated with childhood asthma – though corticosteroids do not treat the asthma condition itself, as bronchodilators do. Many parents are concerned about inhaled corticosteroids because they appear to affect growth rates. However, research has found that low to moderate doses of the drug do not affect a child's ultimate height. Parents who are concerned should speak with the child's physician regarding inhaled corticosteroids.

It is important to maintain regular checkups so a physician can track the progress of the condition. The frequency of checkups depends upon the child’s asthma diagnosis:

• Mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma (symptoms occurring twice a week or less [mild intermittent] or more than twice a week, but not daily [mild persistent]) – every six to 12 months
  
  
• Moderate persistent asthma (daily symptoms) – every three to four months
  
  
• Severe persistent asthma (continual symptoms) – every one to two months

When asthma is managed properly, children with the condition can lead full, active lives. They will not have asthma-related absences from school and should be able to fully participate in school activities, including athletics.