General asthma FAQ

In this FAQ we answer some of the general asthma related questions that you may have.

Asthma: Causes and symptoms

Asthma is a common lung condition that makes breathing more difficult due to inflammation in the airways. The airways are small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In response to a trigger (like a cold), the airways become more sensitive and inflamed which causes them to narrow and produce more mucus.

These trigger the muscles around the airways to tighten, making them narrow. This makes it more difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs.

What is asthma?

The causes of asthma are not fully understood. However your child may be more likely to develop asthma if they:

Or other family members have allergies such as eczema, food allergy or hay fever
Were born prematurely or had a low birth weight
Had childhood illness such as bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Were exposed to cigarette smoke while in utero or in childhood
Were exposed to high levels of air pollution as a child
Are overweight

The main symptoms of asthma are breathing problems such as:

Coughing, especially a dry cough that often reoccurs at night, early morning or during exercise
Wheezing, which is like a whistling sound. This is often diagnosed by a doctor listening to your child’s chest with a stethoscope
Shortness of breath, this can often be triggered by exercise.
Chest tightness, which can be described as chest pain or tummy pain by your child

These can range from mild with severe symptoms to severe with persistent symptoms.

Page contents

On this page you will find information about:

Asthma: Causes and symptoms
Diagnosis, triggers and treatment
Asthma action plan, asthma attacks, illnesses and growing up with asthma

Diagnosis, triggers and treatment

If your child has ongoing breathing issues like cough and wheeze, it is important your child is seen by your doctor. Your doctor will ask you some questions including when do your child’s symptoms occur, your child’s medical and family history as well as conducting a physical examination.

If your child is 5 years or over, they may be asked to do a breathing test and some blood tests can also be taken. If your child is under 5 years they may be started on asthma medication and monitor response to treatment.

Many things can trigger asthma symptoms in children. Common triggers include:

Colds and flu
Changes in the weather (for example, very cold air)
Pollen, dust, animal fur or dander, and mould
Exercise
Vaping or smoking, and breathing in second-hand smoke

Other things that can also trigger asthma are:

Air pollution
Some medicines
Strong smells from cleaning products or sprays
Strong emotions, such as excitement, stress, or crying

The main treatment for managing your child’s asthma is medication you breathe in, using an inhaler. The following are different type of asthma medication:

Controllers – anti-inflammatory inhalers
Relievers- inhaler that opens the airways
Combination inhalers – inhaled controllers and long acting relievers
Leukotriene receptors antagonists(LTRA) – anti-inflammatory oral medication
Maintenance and Reliever Therapy – inhaled controllers and fast acting relievers
Oral steroids
Biologics – treatment for severe asthma

Asthma action plan, asthma attacks, illnesses and growing up with asthma

An action plan is a written plan with information you need to help you manage your child’s asthma. A healthcare professional will help you complete your child asthma action plan. It will have information on your child medication regime, signs of worsening asthma, management of your child asthma symptoms and what to do if your child has an asthma attack. All children with asthma should have an asthma action plan.

Asthma action plan

While many children can grow out of asthma, there are no guarantee your child will. Occasionally their asthma may reoccur in adulthood. There is no accurate way of predicting who will and who won’t outgrow their asthma but several factors make it less likely such as:

Children who have severe asthma and frequent hospital admissions.
Other allergic disorders like eczema, food allergy or hay fever
A family history (in a parent or sibling) of allergic disease

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General asthma FAQ

Asthma: Causes and symptoms

What is asthma?

What are the causes of asthma?

What are the common symptoms of asthma?

Page contents

Diagnosis, triggers and treatment

How is my child asthma diagnosed?

What triggers my child’s asthma to get worse?

What are the common asthma treatments in children?

Asthma action plan, asthma attacks, illnesses and growing up with asthma

What is an asthma action plan?

After asthma attack, what is next?

What to do if my child gets a cold?

Will my child ‘grow out’ of asthma?