Children diagnosed with allergies or asthma often have questions and concerns about their disorder. Parents and other adults can play a key role in helping children come to terms with their diagnosis.

When discussing allergies and asthma with children, parents must be honest and open while remaining reassuring. The more children know about their condition, the more comfortable they will be when symptoms inevitably occur. Allergies and asthma require management to limit the frequency and severity of symptoms. Education is a key part of disease management.

Parents should answer as many of their children’s questions as they can. Effective communication between parents and children is vital in controlling allergies and asthma. Parents should also emphasize that treatments that may scare children (such as allergy shots) or make them feel separated from their peers (such as inhaler use) will have benefits that ultimately make life happier and more satisfying.