Before Going Home

Your child's asthma symptoms (coughing - especially at night, wheezing or whistling noise, chest tightness, and shortness of breath) should have improved.

Your child should not need the Reliever medicine (*) more than every 4 hours.

You may have seen an asthma educator who will provide you with the basic information for asthma care.

You should have an appointment made for further teaching.

A nurse, doctor or asthma educator should review your Asthma Discharge Plan. This written plan tells you what medicines your child needs to take and how often, until you see your child's doctor.

* Reliever medicine examples: Ventolin®, Bricanyl®, Airomir®, salbutamol.

After a hospital stay, your child may need different asthma medicines or different amounts than normally used.

See your Asthma Discharge Plan.

Make sure you know how to correctly use your child’s asthma medicines.

Your child should have a follow-up visit with their doctor within a week of discharge from the hospital.

Be sure to complete a new written Asthma Action Plan with your doctor at your follow-up appointment.

An oral steroid such as prednisone, prednisolone, Pediapred&rt;, Medrol&rt; may be needed . This medicine helps decrease swelling and mucous in the airways of the lungs. It will usually be taken for a short time (3-7 days) depending on your child’s age and the severity of the asthma attack.

Regular use of a Controller / Preventer medicine (**) will decrease the swelling and mucous in your child’s airways. Controller medicines should be started in hospital. They take days to start working and must be used every day.

Some doctors may suggest regular use of Reliever medicine for a few days after discharge OR Reliever medicine can be used only as needed at home for relief of asthma symptoms.

If your child needs Reliever medicine every 4 hours for more than one or two days, call your doctor.

If your child needs Reliever medicine more than every 4 hours, go to the Emergency Department.

** Controller/Preventer medicine examples: beclomethasone, QVAR®, FloVent®, Pulmicort®, Advair®, Symbicort®, Singulair®

What Can I Do To Prevent A Future Hospital Visit For Asthma?

1. Take an active part in managing your child’s asthma.
   
   
2. Know your child’s asthma medicines and how to use them.
   
   
3. Know your child’s asthma triggers. Avoid them whenever possible.
   
   
4. Recognize early warning signs of worsening asthma:
   • colds
   • need for Reliever medicine more than 3 times a week for asthma symptoms
   • waking at night due to asthma
   • asthma interfering with activity
5. Have your doctor complete an Asthma Action Plan. Know how to use it.
   
   
6. Regular visits to the doctor are an important part of managing asthma.
   
   
7. See your doctor to review your Asthma Action Plan at least twice a year.
   
   
8. Continue to learn as much as you can about asthma. Attend asthma education classes after your child is home. Call 787-2551 to register for classes.