HEALTH SERVICES
Health Services
What are Asthma & Allergies?
Asthma and allergies are like close cousins in the body. Allergies happen when the body gets upset by things like pollen or dust and makes you sneeze or feel itchy. Sometimes, these allergies can also make your breathing tubes smaller, causing asthma symptoms like coughing or trouble breathing. This is because the body reacts in a similar way for both allergies and asthma.
So, if you have allergies, you might be more likely to get asthma, and if you have asthma, things that bother your allergies could also make your asthma worse.
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Know the signs & symptoms
Frequent coughing, especially at night or during physical activity
Wheezing
(a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing)
Shortness of breath
Chest
tightness
Sneezing
Skin rashes
or hives
Runny or
Stuffy nose
In some cases, stomach discomfort or vomiting after exposure to allergens or certain foods
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Signs and symptoms of Asthma and Allergies in children can vary, but some common indicators to watch for include:
Managing Asthma and Allergies in Spring and Summer
During the months of September to December, there are a few important things to consider regarding your child's asthma and allergies:
Pollen: In Spring, plants release pollen, triggering asthma symptoms in some children. Pollen from grasses, eucalyptus trees, and flowering plants can be particularly troublesome. If your child is allergic to pollen, it's important to be aware of the pollen levels in your area and take steps to minimise their exposure.
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Thunderstorm Asthma: In certain parts of Australia, thunderstorm asthma events can occur. These events happen when high pollen levels combine with specific weather conditions, causing a sudden increase in asthma symptoms and emergencies. It's crucial to stay informed about any thunderstorm asthma warnings and take necessary precautions to protect your child.
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Bushfires: As the weather gets warmer, bushfires occur in some areas of Australia. The smoke from fires contain particles and pollutants that can worsen asthma symptoms and respiratory health. Even if you're not near the fires, the smoke can travel and impact air quality. Stay updated on any bushfire activity in your area and take steps to protect your child from smoke exposure.
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Temperature and Humidity: Some children may find hot and humid conditions challenging, while others may experience relief from their symptoms. Pay attention to how your child reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. Take necessary precautions to keep them comfortable.
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Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan is a personalised written document that provides instructions on how to manage your child's asthma, including during an asthma attack. It includes important information about their daily medications, how to recognise worsening symptoms (yellow zone), and specific steps to take in an emergency situation (red zone) or during an asthma attack.
The action plan serves as a valuable tool for you and other caregivers, ensuring you know what actions to take to keep
your child's asthma under control and when to seek immediate medical help.
It's important to share the plan with your child's school and caregivers, and to regularly update it based on guidance from their healthcare professional.
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Importance of using a Spacer
Research shows that using a spacer can increase the amount of medication reaching the lungs by up to 70%.
By using a Breath-A-Tech spacer, your child can get the full benefit of their asthma medication, leading to better control of symptoms and a reduced risk of asthma attacks.
Breath-A-Tech spacers also help overcome coordination challenges, as they allow your child to inhale the medication at their own pace. So, don't forget to use a Breath-A-Tech spacer with your child's inhaler to ensure they receive the right dose of medication and achieve optimal asthma management.
A Breath-A-Tech spacer helps with medication uptake through several mechanisms:
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Increased medication delivery to the lungs
Reduced deposition in the mouth and throat
Improved inhalation technique
Importance of using a
Saline Nasal Spray
FLO Kids Saline Nasal Spray helps clear a child’s runny or blocked nose quickly, gently and easily. It delivers a natural, preservative-free and gentle nasal saline that is suitable for daily use. The natural way to clear congestion.
Using FLO Kids Saline Nasal Spray can help relieve a child's nasal symptoms due to colds and allergies as it can wash away mucus produced by colds, pollens, dust and other allergy-causing particles.
Tips for Parents
Here are some concise tips for parents to help manage their child's allergy and asthma:
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Speak with a healthcare professional to develop an asthma action plan and schedule regular check-ups
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Minimise exposure to triggers like pollen, dust mites, and smoke by creating an allergy-friendly home environment.
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Ensure your child takes prescribed preventive medications regularly.
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Monitor symptoms and track patterns.
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Encourage activities that are less likely to trigger asthma symptoms such as swimming, walking, biking, or team sports with proper warm-up and breaks.
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Asthma Attack Management
Here's what you can do if your child has an asthma attack:
1. Recognise the Symptoms: Be familiar with the signs of an asthma attack, which can include:
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Coughing, particularly during the night or in response to triggers.
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Wheezing or a whistling sound when breathing out.
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Shortness of breath or rapid breathing.
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Chest tightness or discomfort.
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Difficulty speaking or catching their breath.
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Retraction of the skin between the ribs or at the neck (retractions).
2. Stay Calm and Reassure Your Child
3. Help Them Sit Upright:
This can make breathing easier by allowing their airways to open up more fully.
4. Administer Quick-Relief Medication:
Give 4 inhalations via spacer. Repeat after 4 minutes if required. If still no improvement, call an ambulance and continue giving 4 inhalations every 4 minutes until it arrives.
5. Encourage Slow Breathing:
Encourage your child to take slow, deep breaths to help them relax and control their breathing.
6. Loosen Tight Clothing:
Help them loosen clothing to ensure unrestricted breathing.
7. Monitor their Condition and Seek Medical Help:
If their symptoms worsen or do not improve after using the inhaler as directed, seek immediate medical assistance.
