Dealing With Colds and Flu When Your Child Has Asthma
Colds and flu are inevitable, particularly for children who are leading busy lives playing with their friends at preschool or primary school. However, if your child has asthma then there is a chance that a simple cold could trigger their symptoms. The right asthma attack treatment can tackle these symptoms when they happen, but it is always best to avoid them if you can.
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1. Keep the Germs Away:
Although every child will get the occasional cold, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the chances of catching a bug. Keeping your child away from anyone who is infectious can be very effective, but it isn’t always possible, particularly when another member of the family is ill. Encouraging everyone to practice basic hygiene, particularly hand washing, can also help to prevent germs spreading.
2. Tackle the Symptoms:
When your child is ill, he or she will need a little extra care to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Tackling the symptoms of cold or flu can help to make your child feel better, but you must make sure that any over the counter medications you use are suitable for children with asthma. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you to choose the right medicine. You will also need to keep treating the asthma. If you have been given a preventer inhaler, it can help to keep inflammation under control even when it is exacerbated by illness. However, there is always a chance that a cold could trigger your child’s symptoms, so you need to be prepared to provide asthma attack treatment, as always. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, you should consult your doctor, even if you think they are caused by the infection rather than the asthma.
3. Get Vaccinated:
An annual flu jab can be a good idea for all young children, but it is particularly important if your child has been diagnosed with asthma. Although the vaccination can’t prevent every type of flu, it can reduce the risk by protecting your child against the most common strain circulating each year. Getting a flu jab is just like all of the other things you do to avoid the triggers that might put your child in need of asthma attack treatment.
Although every child will get the occasional cold, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the chances of catching a bug. Keeping your child away from anyone who is infectious can be very effective, but it isn’t always possible, particularly when another member of the family is ill. Encouraging everyone to practice basic hygiene, particularly hand washing, can also help to prevent germs spreading.
2. Tackle the Symptoms:
When your child is ill, he or she will need a little extra care to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Tackling the symptoms of cold or flu can help to make your child feel better, but you must make sure that any over the counter medications you use are suitable for children with asthma. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you to choose the right medicine. You will also need to keep treating the asthma. If you have been given a preventer inhaler, it can help to keep inflammation under control even when it is exacerbated by illness. However, there is always a chance that a cold could trigger your child’s symptoms, so you need to be prepared to provide asthma attack treatment, as always. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, you should consult your doctor, even if you think they are caused by the infection rather than the asthma.
3. Get Vaccinated:
An annual flu jab can be a good idea for all young children, but it is particularly important if your child has been diagnosed with asthma. Although the vaccination can’t prevent every type of flu, it can reduce the risk by protecting your child against the most common strain circulating each year. Getting a flu jab is just like all of the other things you do to avoid the triggers that might put your child in need of asthma attack treatment.