Asthma's Impact on Your Child's Life

Overview

Asthma is a challenging condition. It can affect all areas of your child's life.

• Many children who have asthma miss school days. When this happens, have your child call a friend to ask about the work that was missed. Doing this both helps your child keep up with schoolwork and gives some of the social contact that school provides.
• Children may doubt their ability to do sports or be in the band. But if your child uses the medicines and keeps asthma symptoms under control, they will likely be able to do these activities.
• Children may be embarrassed about taking medicine at school. It may help if your child can take the medicine at home or is allowed to keep the medicine with them at school. At times, though, your child may need to go to the school nurse or office to take medicine.
• Children may feel they are different from their peers because of the need to avoid situations that trigger asthma symptoms, such as going to the homes of friends who have pets. Inviting those friends to your home can help your child interact with other children. But visitors may carry pet allergens on their clothing and other items. Be aware that your child may need to increase the use of asthma-control medicines during such visits.
• Children may be concerned about having an asthma attack at school or around friends. They may fear that they will not be able to breathe during an attack. If symptoms are controlled daily, children will have fewer, less severe asthma attacks.

If your child's asthma is causing you or your child anxiety, there are things that can help with that, like counseling or family therapy.