Asthma in Children-When to Call a Doctor
Asthma in Children-When to Call a Doctor
Call911or other emergency services immediately if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Call your doctor if:
If your child has not been diagnosed with asthma but has asthma symptoms, call your doctor and make an appointment for an evaluation.
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your child's symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.
If you think your child has asthma, watchful waiting is not appropriate. See your doctor.
If your child has been getting treatment for 1 to 3 months and is not improving, ask your doctor whether the child needs to see a specialist (allergist or pulmonologist).
Watchful waiting may be appropriate if your child follows his or her asthma action plan and stays within the green zone. Monitor your child's symptoms, and continue to avoid asthma triggers.
Health professionals who can diagnose and treat asthma include:
Your child may need to see a specialist (an allergist or pulmonologist) if he or she:
- Your child is still having severe trouble breathing.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child's symptoms do not get better after following his or her asthma action plan.
- Your child has new or worse trouble breathing.
- Your child's coughing and wheezing get worse.
- Your child coughs up dark brown or bloody mucus (sputum).
- Your child has a new or higher fever.
Call your doctor if:
- Your child needs to use quick-relief medicine on more than 2 days a week (unless it is just for exercise).
- Your child coughs more deeply or more often, especially if there is more mucus or a change in the color of the mucus.
- Your child has asthma and his or her PEF has been getting worse for 2 to 3 days.
If you think your child has asthma
If your child has not been diagnosed with asthma but has asthma symptoms, call your doctor and make an appointment for an evaluation.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your child's symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.
If you think your child has asthma, watchful waiting is not appropriate. See your doctor.
If your child has been getting treatment for 1 to 3 months and is not improving, ask your doctor whether the child needs to see a specialist (allergist or pulmonologist).
Watchful waiting may be appropriate if your child follows his or her asthma action plan and stays within the green zone. Monitor your child's symptoms, and continue to avoid asthma triggers.
Who to see
Health professionals who can diagnose and treat asthma include:
Your child may need to see a specialist (an allergist or pulmonologist) if he or she:
- Has moderate persistent to severe persistentasthma.
- Has other medical conditions that make it hard to treat asthma.
- Needs more education or has difficulty following the asthma action plan.
- Is not meeting the goals of treatment after several months of therapy.
- Has had a life-threatening asthma attack.
- Needs skin testing for allergies.
