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Treating asthma in children ages 12 and older

Treating asthma in children ages 12 and older requires different steps than in younger children. Get tips on symptoms, medications and using an asthma action plan.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Asthma in children is a common, chronic ailment that can interfere with daily activities and cause disruptive flare-ups. If your son or daughter has breathing problems you think might be caused by asthma, see the doctor. Diagnosis of asthma in children is important. Proper treatment of asthma in children not only improves day-to-day breathing and reduces asthma flare-ups — but also may help prevent future problems.

Diagnosis and treatment of asthma is different for children 12 and older than it is for younger children. Asthma in children also varies from child to child, and symptoms may get better or worse at certain times. In some children, asthma symptoms get better with age.

While asthma can't be cured, it can be managed by following the treatment plan you and your son or daughter develop with your child's doctor.

Asthma symptoms in children 12 and older

Common asthma symptoms in children ages 12 and older include:

  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest tightness or discomfort

Some children have few day-to-day symptoms, but have bad asthma attacks now and then. Other children have regular, mild symptoms or symptoms that get worse with activity or other triggers ranging from cigarette smoke to seasonal allergies.

Asthma emergencies
For some children, severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms of an asthma emergency in children ages 12 and older include:

  • Lots of  trouble breathing and coughing or wheezing, especially if symptoms don't improve with treatment
  • Peak flow rates in the "red" zone

Tests to diagnose and monitor asthma

In older children, doctors diagnose and monitor asthma with the same tests used in adults. Lung function (spirometry) tests measure how quickly and how much air your child can exhale.

Your child's doctor may be able to check the inflammation in your son or daughter's airways with a newer test that measures nitric oxide levels in your child's breath. In general, higher levels of nitric oxide mean your son or daughter's lungs aren't working as well as they should be, and asthma isn't under control.

Measuring lung function at home
Your child's doctor may give your son or daughter a portable, hand-held device known as a peak flow meter to check lung function at home on a regular basis. This device measures how fast your child can exhale. Low readings indicate worsening asthma. You and your child may notice low peak flow readings before any worsening symptoms become apparent, and adjust treatment ahead of time to prevent a flare-up.

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References
  1. Schatz M. Pharmacotherapy of asthma: What do the 2007 NAEPP guidelines say? Symposium: Overview of the 2007 NHLBI asthma guidelines. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 2007;28:628.
  2. Expert panel report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bethesda, Md.: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
  3. Liu AH. Childhood asthma. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/100024376-12/727446153/1608/440.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50145-6--cesec11_3422. Accessed April 23, 2008.
  4. Szefler SJ. Advances in pediatric asthma in 2007. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2008;121:614.
  5. Stewart LJ. Pediatric Asthma. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2008;35:25.

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Jan. 16, 2009

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