Symptom management plan after an asthma attack

Going home plan for children

Your child should now be feeling better than when they first came in. They should not need to use the blue salbutamol (reliever) inhaler as much anymore.

You can now give your child their usual preventer inhaler every day. Continue to give your child their oral  corticosteroids if they have been prescribed.

When your child may need the blue inhaler (reliever)

1. Look out for signs that your child needs their blue inhaler, such as: struggling to breathe, coughing a lot, tight chest, wheezy or their peak flow (if measured) is dropping.
2. Give 1 puff of the blue inhaler with a spacer, then remove and shake the inhaler. Then give a 2nd puff, and wait 5 minutes. Repeat as needed up to 2 more times, until you have given 6 puffs in total.
3. Your child should now feel much better and this should last at least 4 hours. You will be able to tell by checking the symptoms (on step 1 above). If they are well, they will not need to use their blue inhaler as often.
4. You can stop giving your child their blue inhaler when they feel better. There is no need to slowly decrease their blue inhaler if they are well.

After the attack

Within 48 hours after the asthma attack, please contact your GP surgery to make an appointment for your child to be reviewed to check they are getting better.

Within 4 weeks you will need to make sure that your child has a follow-up appointment arranged with your GP, practice nurse or be seen in the asthma clinic for a full asthma review. See your child’s personalised asthma action plan for further information.

Summary

• If your child’s asthma is getting worse, urgently see your GP.
• For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
• You should call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department if your child is in critical or life-threatening situations.