Asthma answers from a real “Dr. Mom”
Donna Backus, MD, is a pediatrician in Canton, OH. She’s also the mother of 4
children, 3 of whom have asthma. She says, “My own children having asthma gives
me a personal perspective from which to help diagnose and treat other
children.”
AsthmaKidCare™: How can parents help
manage their child’s asthma? What advice do you have for parents of children
with asthma?
Dr. Backus: Parents need to be in very
close communication with their doctor about their child's asthma symptoms. If
the child's not having good control the doctor needs to know so that changes
can be made.
I find it very important for a parent to understand what triggers their child's
asthma so as to be able to control it better. If a parent is aware of what's
triggering it they can eliminate those things from their environment and they
can educate caretakers of the child to help avoid those triggers as well.
AsthmaKidCare: How can parents help take
control of their child’s asthma?
Dr. Backus: The most important thing
parents can do for a child’s asthma is to be sure the child is using controller
(maintenance or preventive) medicine on a regular basis as the child’s health
care provider has prescribed. Controller medicine is critical. If a child is
not using controller medicine, he or she is susceptible to having a flare up
that can be rather severe. The medicine also needs to be in a form that the
child can use so that parents can be assured the medicine is actually getting
where it needs to go. Remember, asthma is an ongoing condition. It will have
better times and worse times, but it is always present. A parent must never
forget this.
AsthmaKidCare: How can parents work with
their child’s other caregivers to manage asthma symptoms at daycare or school?
Dr. Backus: Parents who have children with
asthma need to communicate very clearly with their caregivers to make sure that
the asthma's understood. First of all, educate them on your child's asthma.
Make sure they understand their triggers, their symptoms, and what to watch for.
Secondly, they need to have a written plan of what to do in case there is a
flare up while the child is with the caregiver.
Thirdly, they need to make sure there is ongoing communication about the child's
asthma on a regular basis.
For most children that have asthma it's very important to have a written plan
that you and your doctor create. It will discuss their maintenance medicines
that they will stay on, on a daily basis, but also give you structure in
knowing how to deal with a flare up. Education is power. If
you know how to manage the child's asthma when it's starting, you don't get
into those extreme flare ups.
Work with your child’s doctor to complete an
Asthma Symptom Prevention Plan that will help you and other caregivers
manage your child’s asthma symptoms.
Learn More – Before, During and After
a Trip to the ER