A GUIDE for PARENTS of Young Children with Asthma Asthmais For
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A GUIDE FOR PARENTS of Young Children With Asthma asthmais for TM/© 2007 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. EVERYDAYKIDZ is a trademark ofi thes AstraZeneca proud Group of to companies. sponso r 2 projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at sesameworkshop.org. onlineat FindtheWorkshop theworld. around children for projects itseducational rightbackinto andPinkyproducts Sagwa Tales, Dragon sales ofSesame Street, from itreceives putstheproceeds Sesame Workshop South Africa,EgyptAsanonprofit, andRussia. in multimediaproductions PinkyDinkyDooand ground-breaking Cat, Siamese TheChinese Sagwa, engaging andenriching.Ses are andproducts itsprograms ensure methodology to research usingitsproprietary 120 countries, in onbehalfofchildren innovate to continues theWorkshop Today, Sesame Street. the legendary with forever television changed in1968,theWorkshop Founded theworld. around lives children’s in difference makingameaningful organization educational isanonprofit Sesame Workshop Find more information and downloadables online at onlineat anddownloadables information Find more asanyofhisfriends. active beas funandto have canhelphimto asthma,you child’s aboutyour it.Byknowing control to how This specialmagazinew 1 Asthma AIsfor Sesame Street hasdeveloped hisorherasthma,Sesame Workshop manage to how childlearn andyour helpyou To asthmacanbemanaged. isthat news thegood away, go Although asthmadoesn’t of5. 1.2millionkidsundertheage affecting States, intheUnited amongchildren illness chronic Asthmaistheleading part oflife. withasthma,thisisanall-too-frequent children millions ofyoung Butfor breathe. –ashisnotbeingableto achild–andparents to nothingasfrightening almost There’s Easy ChildBreathe Helping Your In this parent guide you willfind: guideyou In thisparent thisimportant project. especiallyfor created withasthmawhowas friend Dani,acharacter American LungAs • • • ideas to extend the stories inthe thestories extend to ideas important messaging; andreinforce teach child,to withyour canuse you activities that itcanbemanaged; andhow itistriggered, asthmais,how explains what that information ame W s ocia tion; LungDis orkshop is behind award-winning programs like Dragon Tales and Tales Dragon like programs orkshop isbehindaward-winning as designedt . This multimedia kit features Elmo, Rosita, andLuisalongwiththeirnew Elmo,Rosita, This multimediakitfeatures e as e Da o helpy ta: 2006;p.13. Sesame Street A Is for Asthma AIsfor Sesame Street ou and your childunderstandhisasthmabetter andlearn ou andyour www.everydaykidz.com/sesameasthma video. 1 is proud to sponsor asthmais for The nonprofit educational organization TM/© 2007 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. EVERYDAYKIDZ is a trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of companies. behind Sesame Street and so much more. Info to Know . s e i n a p m o c f o p u are also o Quiet symptoms r 1) What Is Asthma? G a important indicators, but c e n Asthma is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory e Z noticing these changes a r t lung disease. Children with asthma have air s A may require closer e h passages in their lungs that are easily irritated by t f attention: o k certain substances called triggers. r a m e • restlessness during d a r t 2) What Happens During an a sleep; s i Z D Asthma Attack? I K • fatigue; Y A D Three things occur in a child’s lungs: Y R E V • unusual sweating or paleness; E . d • The muscles around the air passages tighten. e v r e • anxiety. s e R • The lining of the walls of the air passages s t h g i 4) What Triggers Can Cause an R swells. l l A . p Asthma Attack? o • The air passages produce excess mucus. h s k r o Although many substances can be triggers, not W e As a result, the flow of air in the lungs is greatly m every child is sensitive to the same ones. Some a s e reduced and there is difficulty breathing, S triggers are things that your child is actually 7 0 0 especially breathing out. 2 allergic to, such as dust mites, pets, or pollen. © / M Other triggers are things that just irritate T 3) What Are the Symptoms of sensitive airways, such as cold air, exercise, or an Asthma Attack? perfumes. Triggers for your child could include: Young children may have difficulty describing their symptoms. Children sometimes will say • viral respiratory infections; things such as “My chest hurts” or “I can’t • dust and dust mites; breathe so well.” A child’s mood or behavior may also change suddenly. Children may become • furry or feathered pets; nervous, irritable, unusually quiet, or even shaky. • pollen (from trees, grasses, weeds); It’s important to pay attention to the child’s way of describing what is happening to him. • molds; Doctors sometimes recommend watching for • cockroaches; “loud” or “quiet” symptoms that may indicate • physical activity, especially running; your child has difficulty breathing. • cold air; Loud symptoms will be most obvious to you: • secondhand cigarette smoke; • coughing; • strong fumes from materials such as perfumes, pesticides, cleaning products, or paints; • shortness of breath; • smoke or odors from burning wood, coal, gas, • tightness in the chest; or diesel exhaust; • wheezing (a whistling sound when • food allergies. breathing). asthmais for 3 4 • • dothefollowing: Remember to asthma. child’s managing your important partner insuccessfully most isyour doctor family Your Doctor WithYour Working asthma. own her partner incontrolling anactive become willhelpher childthat withyour information share beableto willalso You attacks. asthma andavoid healthy helping herstay at willbecome asthma,thebetter you child’s your aboutcontrolling know you The more Managing Asthma • • Pr y bef y about thedoctor instructions from w isnot andwhat is working what know plan.Lethimorher treatment child’s Giv asthma a to respond asthmaand to child’s your Asthma Pr W completely. and instructions carefully those questions, andwrit best treatment possible. best treatment T ou understandtheans our child’ ak orking t epar ork withy ore visiting the doctor. Make sure Make visitingthedoctor. ore e your child for regular checkups. checkups. regular childfor e your e y e anyquestionsy our doc t o pr tacks. ofile (s s medica our doc ovide your child withthe your ovide tor feedback onyour feedback tor ee page 7)manage to ee page e do tions or care. Follow tions orcare. t or t w wn any ou ma o develop an o develop ers t o y y ha our v e • • • a f following asthma by child’s your manage canhelp astheirfriends.You active beingas itcanenjoy whohave children properly, When asthmaismanaged orlessened. canbeprevented attacks and But asthmacanbecontrolled, asthma. for nocure iscurrently There Asthma Controlling • reducing exposure to triggers. to exposure reducing has an asthma attack; has anasthmaattack; t child; your for and otherpeoplewhohelpcare members, family asthma withteachers, c visits; doctor upwithregular keeping and doctor, child’s withyour working eaching your child what to doifhe to childwhat your eaching e ommunica w impor tant pr ting about your child’s ting aboutyour ac tic es, suchas: asthmais for TM/© 2007 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. EVERYDAYKIDZ is a trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of companies. TM/© 2007 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. EVERYDAYKIDZ is a trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of companies. 1) Rescue medications, 1) Rescue childmighttake: your that medications of categories different two are there general, In thanonekindoftreatment. ismore there so asthmaisdifferent, child’s Every or anebulizer. inhaler(puffer) mist witheitherametered-dose inhaledasa Othersare swallowed. liquids are ofpillsor Some asthmamedicinesintheform hisorherasthma. control medicines neededto understandthe to doctor child’s with your Work Medications Giving Necessary 2) not beingc hisasthmaisprobably times perweek, two than more medications rescue childuses your if Infact, day. should notbeneededevery medications these managed, is properly asthma whose Inchildren difficulty. breathing y when ofsymptoms relief immediate provide medication. and hepr e f In whenshehasnosymptoms. asthma, even child’s your control They name suggests: C Thes medications. calledpreventive sometimes our child has an asthma attack oranytype of our childhasanasthmaattack ac v ontroller medications ontroller ery da t, the e medicinesshouldbeus y ac y obably shouldbeonac . ontr tually pr olled asw such as certain inhalers, such ascertain e v ent s do exactly what their what do exactly ell as it could be, ell asitcould ympt ed regularly, oms, andare ontr oller • • • • Breathing Has Trouble Child WhenYour Take to Steps Pr Asthma theSesame Use Street thehospital. to child your transport asthey relief breathing emer The anambulance. call911for be working, to appear don’t Get help.Ifmedications 7). page (see completed you’ve that AsthmaProfile intheSesame Street listed guidelinesas medication doctor’s your Follow hisorhermedicine. childtakes your sure Make anxious. be less willhelphimorher you yourself, as possible ascalm calm.Bystaying childstay Help your lyingdown. she avoids he or sure Make childsitandrest. your Have medicines your childuses. medicines your ofile t gency team can provide immediate canprovide team gency o tell medical personnel what medicalpersonnel o tell asthmais for 5 . s e i n a p m o c f An Ounce of Prevention o p u o r G Helping to prevent an asthma attack can help ensure your child will stay healthy and active. a c e n e Z a r t s A Remove Triggers e h t f o • Wipe surfaces daily with a damp rag to reduce k r a m dust. Stuffed toys and security blankets trap dust e d a r t and dust mites; no more than two should be a s i kept on the bed. They should be washed weekly. Z D I K your child healthy and active. Give them details Y A D • Avoid using carpets; they can trap dust and pet Y about your child’s condition and needs, and make R E V E hair. Choose washable area rugs or bare floors sure each of them has a copy of your child’s . d e v instead. r . Also let teachers know about e My Asthma Profile s e R s the Action Plan poster available for use in their t • Eliminate sources of strong odors, such as h g i R room at .