Severe asthma in kids
Is your child struggling with asthma, even with strong medicine? We understand how scary it can be, but don’t worry, help is available. Our friendly team is just a phone call away at 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462). Our Asthma Educators are happy to chat with you or your child about severe asthma and how to manage it.
What is severe asthma in kids?
While asthma is quite common, severe asthma is rare in kids. Kids with severe asthma will still have asthma symptoms and asthma attacks even though they take high dose asthma treatment.
Seeing a specialist is key. Your doctor can refer you to a special kids’ lung doctor who knows all about kids’ asthma. They are called a Paediatric Respiratory Specialist. They’ll organise tests to confirm that it is asthma and rule out other causes. Sometimes symptoms can seem like asthma but are actually something else. Once the doctor knows what’s going on, they can figure out a plan to try to improve your child’s asthma. This might include changing medicine and updating your Asthma Action Plan. They will help you identify any triggers and give you ideas for how to reduce them.
The doctor will also check that your child is taking their current treatment the right way. Asthma puffer and inhaler technique are very easy to get wrong. You can help your child by making sure they use them each day as prescribed. Their technique (or your technique if you do it for them) should also be double checked. Your doctor, chemist or asthma nurse can help with this or you can call our 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) line to talk it through.
Just like adults with asthma, kids with severe asthma use inhalers to open their airways fast and prevent future attacks. But even with strong medicine, some symptoms may still linger. That’s the tricky part of severe asthma.
Kids with severe asthma will often be prescribed a combination preventer. Combination preventers work by reducing the inflammation and sensitivity of the airways with an inhaled corticosteroid and relaxing the airway muscles and keeping them open for a long time with a long-acting reliever.
Some kids with severe asthma may be prescribed Tiotropium as an add-on treatment. This is an option for kids with severe asthma when asthma is still not well controlled even when other medicines have been tried and inhaler technique is good. It must be used alongside a daily combination preventer, and the child must be seen by a specialist.
Liquid steroids are often given to kids with severe asthma to treat their flare-ups and can help a lot. But long-term use can be harmful. Your child’s doctor will take care and only prescribe them if they need to.
The good news? New treatments are both here and on the way! These special medicines, called “biologics,” target very specific problems in your child’s airways. Your child will have to meet specific criteria to get these prescribed, such as their age and their type of asthma. To find the right one, your doctor will need to take a blood test. There are also rules they will have to meet to have these medicines paid for by the PBS, which you can ask your doctor about.
Once the specialist has found the right treatment, your child’s GP can take over their care again.
| You’re not alone. With the right help, your child will breathe better and not be held back by their asthma. |
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