Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
Asthma is a condition you would not want to have.
I should know.
I have asthma.
My father had asthma, some of his brothers have asthma, several of my cousins have asthma, two of my kids have developed some skin asthma, rashes, eczema, skin issues, it will run in our family forever!
How Asthma Affects Your Child
If asthma is hard to live with even for an older person like me, imagine how asthma could affect a younger child. I personally know a parent (a high school batch mate) who lost her child to an intense asthma attack. Yes, asthma can be deadly and the younger the child suffering of asthma is, the more we should give special attention.
You see, children do not fully understand their condition and find it extremely hard to cope with it. Children with asthma, aside from dealing with the condition, have to deal with other issues as well, like having an attack anywhere (a chat with friends with lots of giggling can trigger an attack, believe me. It happened to me!), being absent from school, and missing out on social life and sports.
Some children with asthma become introverts. I had a classmate in the 4th grade who had extremely vicious asthma attacks. Mean girls in the class would ostracize her and think that her coughing was contagious. She would literally shrink during those coughing episodes and only people like me knew what she was going through. Our 4th grade homeroom teacher had to intervene and invited the girl’s father to talk with us and explain what asthma is.
Helping Your Child Deal With Asthma
If your child has asthma, it is important to explain to her in words she can understand the following:
- What is asthma,
- What will happen to her during an asthma attack,
- What is she supposed to do when she has a severe attack, and
- What will she do when her parents are not around.
Knowing what asthma is and how to deal with it will give her confidence to cope with this condition without being afraid of it.
Make your place asthma free.
When your child lives with the fear of an asthma attack, it is important to avoid triggers. The following are absolutes in avoiding asthma attacks:
- Clean her room.
- Avoid plushy and stuffed toys.
- Vacuum the house regularly.
Important: Make your cleaning chores a routine. Always remember that the less your child will come in contact with asthma triggers, allergens and dust mites, the lesser will be the probability of asthma attacks.
It is also important to check out your child’s classrooms. The classrooms should be clean with adequate ventilation.
Let the school, including the teachers, school nurse and school bus driver, know about your child’s asthma. Share with them your asthma action plan so they will know what to do in case your child has an asthma attack in school. 
For more information about the way asthmatic children and asthma sufferers in general can treat their ailment and have a normal life read this. You will find a complete guide which will help you treat your child’s asthma for good.