| Attack Asthma is our call for you to be proactive about asthma. Don’t wait for your child to have an asthma attack. |
Asthma and your child’s lungs
Asthma causes inflammation and swelling inside the lungs. This makes the airways very sensitive. When something triggers a child’s asthma, the airways tighten and it becomes harder to breathe.
If suited for your child, Attack Asthma with anti-inflammatory inhalers to calm down the lungs before a flare-up is triggered.
A blue puffer might not be enough
A blue puffer relaxes the airway muscles so you can breathe more easily. But it does not treat the swelling underneath. Treating that inflammation helps stop future flare ups and asthma attacks.
That’s why all kids 12 and over with asthma should have some kind of anti-inflammatory inhaler, not just a blue puffer. Many kids under 12 also need anti-inflammatory treatment in the form of a preventer inhaler. This helps stop their lungs from getting sensitive, and triggering asthma symptoms.
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Get your child’s asthma score
It can sometimes feel like your child’s asthma has gone from being totally under control one day, to being severely flared-up the next! Our online tests can help you to understand how well your child’s asthma is going at the moment. When you finish the test you’ll get an asthma score – telling you if it’s on target or not, and recommended steps to take based on your child’s result.
If your child is under 12, you will need to complete part of the test with them.
Select the right test for you below |
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Winter is cold and flu season
Viral infections, including the flu, are the most common trigger for asthma flare-ups, including asthma attacks demanding a hospital visit. In 2025, kids under 10 years were the most likely to get the flu, compared to older children and adults. About half of people hospitalised for the flu that year were kids 16 and under.
You can help protect your family, including by getting everyone vaccinated against the flu. And in 2026, there are more options! Children aged 2 to 17 years can try a needle-free flu vaccine for the first time, or they can get an injectable vaccine, as before.
Vaccination is a simple step that can make a big difference during cold and flu season. Talk to your doctor of pharmacist about how to best protect your family this winter.
Having a child with asthma can feel uncertain – but together, we can change that.
By taking the right steps, you can feel more confident and in control, so that asthma doesn’t control your child.
Here’s how you can Attack Asthma:
Prevent symptoms before they start
- If your child has a preventer, using it daily can help reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks your child experiences.
- Be aware of the things that trigger their symptoms and have a plan for how to deal with them.
Be proactive
- Book an asthma review with your doctor to keep your child’s asthma under control and make sure they have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan. A child’s Asthma Action Plan should be reviewed at least yearly and whenever asthma symptoms change or medicines are changed or stopped.
- Monitor your child’s symptoms and overall health, and work with your doctor to ensure the treatment plan is achieving your goals.
Participate
- Be actively involved in your child’s care – work with doctors and care providers as a shared decision-maker.
- Ensure you are using your devices correctly – you can practise this together with your child to gain confidence.
- Discuss your treatment goals with your doctor, including what your child wants their life to feel like when they have control of their asthma.
Tools to Attack Asthma
The following asthma resources are helpful for kids with asthma.
Asthma Action Plan
Everyone with asthma needs their own Asthma Action Plan.
The Asthma Action Plan is like an instruction manual for your asthma written by your doctor. It tells you what to do to manage your child’s asthma – what to do when it is well controlled, flaring up or what to do when they are very unwell. Following an Asthma Action Plan as instructed by the doctor will help prevent your child’s asthma from getting out of control.
The Asthma Action Plan should also be given to your child’s school so they know what to do if your child’s asthma flares-up.
Download Asthma Action Plan Template
Asthma Review – Symptom Tracker
Be proactive by booking asthma reviews in advance.
Asthma management should be reviewed with the doctor every six months for kids and yearly for adolescents and adults (unless asthma symptoms or medicines have changed).
To prepare for an Asthma Review, try to keep a diary of your child’s symptoms. You can do this in your phone calendar app, notes app or can download our symptom tracker here.
Videos
We know that sometimes kids prefer to learn from online videos, or simply from someone other than Mum and Dad – shocker! We have a bunch of videos that explain different parts of asthma and asthma management on our YouTube channel:
Talk to an Asthma Educator
Sometimes you need to speak to a real person to get your asthma questions answered. You can call an Asthma Educator for free on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) or book a call at a time that suits you.
Our Asthma Educators can answer all the questions you have about managing your child’s asthma, like preventer use in kids, managing asthma attacks, asthma at school, what to do post-hospital visit and so much more.
Book a call with an Asthma Educator
You can also speak to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice on how to best treat and manage your child’s asthma.
Want to hear more? Join onAir
The onAir newsletter is a brief email that shares handy asthma tips and information. onAir has you covered with the asthma information you need year-round, whether the kids are heading back to school, coming into winter or are dealing with allergens and asthma in spring.
Asthma Australia acknowledges the support of the Australian Government’s Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutic and Pathology Program for the Attack Asthma Consumer Health Literacy campaign.
Last updated: 5 May 2026
