Asthma attack animation
An animation about asthma attacks, including symptoms and when you might need to see a health professional.
Source: KidsHealth
transcribeTranscript
Asthma is a condition that leads to narrowing of the airways of the lungs.
Tamariki with asthma can have asthma attacks.
Asthma attacks can happen quite suddenly …
… and can get worse quickly.
What you do for your child’s asthma attack depends on their symptoms.
Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe.
Symptoms of a mild asthma attack include:
- a slight wheeze
- a mild cough
- coughing or wheezing when active
Symptoms of a moderate asthma attack include:
- obvious breathing difficulties
- a continuing cough
- difficulty speaking a complete sentence
Symptoms of a severe asthma attack include:
- having severe trouble breathing
- gasping for breath
- being afraid
- saying only 1 or 2 words at a time
- looking pale and becoming quiet
- looking very floppy and tired
- looking blue around the mouth
- the inhaler is not helping
What to do if your child is having an asthma attack.
Sit them upright.
Give them their reliever inhaler through the spacer.
For every puff, your child needs to take 6 breaths.
For mild symptoms
Give 2 puffs of the inhaler.
For moderate symptoms
Give 6 puffs of the inhaler.
If you child is not improving after 10 minutes, repeat the inhaler and see a health professional immediately or call 111.
For severe symptoms
This is an emergency – call 111.
Then give 6 puffs of the inhaler every 10 minutes until help arrives.
Asthma symptoms can get worse quickly.
Don’t hesitate to seek urgent help.
An animation about asthma attacks, including symptoms and when you might need to see a health professional (in te reo Māori).
Source: KidsHealth
transcribeTranscript
Ko te huangō he mate e whāiti ai ngā arahau o ngā pūkahukahu.
Ka pāngia pea ngā tamariki mate huangō e ngā pānga huangō.
Ka puta tino ohorere pea ngā pānga huangō ā, ka tere hoki pea te kino kē atu.
Ko tāu mahi hei āwhina i te pānga huangō o tō tamaiti kei te āhua tonu o ngā tohumate.
Ka puta pea ngā tohumate māmā, āhua māmā, taumaha rānei.
Anei ētahi o ngā tohumate o tētahi pānga huangō māmā:
- he tīmohu māmā
- he maremare māmā
- he maremare, he tīmohu rānei ka korikori tinana ana
Anei ētahi o ngā tohumate o tētahi pānga huangō āhua māmā:
- he uaua o te hēhē e tino kitea ana
- he maremare e haere tonu ana
- he uaua o te whakahua i te katoa o tētahi rerenga kōrero
Anei ētahi o ngā tohumate o tētahi pānga huangō taumaha:
- he tino uaua o te hēhē
- he tūngāngā
- te noho wehi
- he whakaputa i te 1, i te 2 kupu rānei i te wā kotahi
- he kōmā te āhua, me te hīrea haere o te tangi o te reo
- he tino pītawitawi te āhua me te ngenge hoki
- he kahurangi ngā taha o te waha
- kāore te ngongo i te āwhina
Me aha mēnā kā pāngia tō tamaiti e te pānga huangō.
Me noho tū ia.
Tukuna ki a ia tōna ngongo whakamāmā mā te puotongā.
Kia 6 ngā whakahā ki ia puhanga.
Mō ngā tohumate māmā.
Tukuna kia 2 ngā puhanga o te ngongo.
Mō ngā tohumate āhua māmā.
Tukuna kia 6 ngā puhanga o te ngongo.
Ki te kore te ora o tō tamaiti e piki haere ana whai muri i te 10 miniti, tukuna anō te ngongo me te toro atu ki tētahi ngaio hauora i taua wā tonu, waea atu rānei ki 111.
Mō ngā tohumate taumaha.
He ohotata tēnei – waea atu ki 111.
Kātahi ka tukuna kia 6 ngā puhanga o te ngongo i ia 10 miniti tae noa ki te taenga mai o te āwhina.
Ka tere pea te kino kē atu o ngā tohumate huangō.
Kaua rawa e tōmuri kia kōhukihuki te kimi āwhina.
An animation about asthma attacks, including symptoms and when you might need to see a health professional (in Samoan).
Source: KidsHealth
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O le Ma‘i Sela o se tulaga e faasolo atu aga‘i i le vāiti ai āla‘ea i le māmā.
E mafai ona osofa‘i e le ma‘i sela tamaiti ua maua i le sela.
E mafai ona osofa‘i faafuase‘i le ma‘i sela ma e mafai ona vave faateteleina.
O mea e te faia mo lau tama pe a osofa‘i e le ma‘i sela e fuafua lava i ona auga.
E feololo pe ogaoga auga.
O auga o se tama‘i osofa‘iga o le sela e aofia ai:
- o se tale ii itiiti
- o se tama‘i tale
- tale masani poo le ii pe a oso
O auga o se osofa‘iga feololo o le ma‘i sela e aofia ai:
- faigata na manava
- tale faalausosoo
- faigata ona tautala i se fuaiupu atoa
O auga o se osofa‘iga ogaoga o le sela e aofia ai:
- le faafitauli ogaoga o le mānava
- tau apata mo se manava
- ua fefe
- tautala na o le 1 pe 2 upu i le taimi
- sesega foliga ma faasolo ina lē tautala
- foliga faaletonu tele ma vaivai
- foliga lanumoana i le gutu
- ua le fesoasoani le pamu
O le a le mea e te faia pe a osofa‘i e le ma‘i sela a lau tama.
Faanofo sa‘o ia i luga.
Tuu i ai i le pamu lavea‘i vave i le spacer e manava ai.
Mo feula ta‘itasi, e mana‘omia e lau tama le manava faa 6.
Mo tama‘i auga.
Feula faalua le pamu.
Mo auga tau feololo.
Feula faaono le pamu.
Afai e leai se suiga lelei o lau tama pe a uma 10 minute, toe fai le pamu e manava ai ma va‘ai vave se foma‘i soifua maloloina pe vala‘au le 111.
Mo auga ogaoga.
O le faalavelave faafuase‘i lena – vala‘au le 111.
Ona fai lea o manava ta‘i 6 o le pamu i le ta‘i 10 minute seia oo mai le fesoasoani.
E mafai ona vave faateteleina auga o le ma‘i sela.
Aua le faatuai e saili se fesoasoani faanatinati.
An animation about asthma attacks, including symptoms and when you might need to see a health professional (in Tongan).
Source: KidsHealth
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Ko e mahaki helá ko ha fokoutua ia te ne fakatupunga ke fāsi‘i ‘a e halanga mānava ‘i he ma‘ama‘á.
ʻE lava ke puke fakafokifā ʻa e fānaú ‘i he mahaki helá.
ʻE lava ke hoko fakafokifā ʻa e puke ‘i he mahaki helá pea ʻe lava ke vave ʻene faka‘au ke toe kovi angé.
Ko e meʻa te ke fai ki he puke fakafokifā ʻa hoʻo tamá ‘i he mahaki helá ʻe makatuʻunga ia ʻi honau ngaahi fakaʻilongá.
‘E lava ke tō ma‘ama‘a, lotoloto pe fakatu‘utāmaki ‘a e ngaahi faka‘ilongá.
ʻOku kau ʻi he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ʻo ha mahaki hela ‘oku tō ma‘ama‘a peé ʻa e:
- kiʻi ongo sisī ‘a e mānavá
- ki‘i tale siʻisiʻi
- tale pe sisī e mānavá ʻi he taimi ‘oku ngaungaue holo aí
ʻOku kau ʻi he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ʻo ha mahaki hela ‘oku hoko fakafokifā mo tu’unga lotoloto peé ʻa e:
- mahino mai ‘oku faingataʻa e mānavá
- tale hokohoko
- faingataʻa ke lea ʻaki ha sētesi kakato
ʻOku kau ʻi he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ʻo ha mahaki hela ‘oku ‘i ha tu’unga fakatu’utāmaki mo fakatu‘upakē ʻa e:
- faingataʻaʻia lahi ʻa e mānavá
- feinga ke fakatau ‘a e mānavá
- ongo‘i ilifia
- lava pē ke lea ʻaki ha foʻi lea ʻe 1 pe 2 ʻi he taimi takitaha
- hā lanu tea mo faka‘au ke fakalongolongo
- hā mai ‘oku ngāvaivai mo helaʻia ‘aupito
- lanu pulū takatakai ʻi he ngutú
- ʻikai ke tokoni ʻa e pamu mānavá
Ko e meʻa ke fai kapau ʻoku puke fakafokifā ho‘o tamá ‘i he mahaki helá.
Fakatangutu kinautolu ‘o fakahangatonu ki ‘olunga.
ʻOange kiate kinautolu ʻenau meʻa pamu mānavá ʻo ngāue ‘aki ‘a e spacer.
ʻI he fo‘i pamu (puff) kotoa pē, ʻoku fiemaʻu ho‘o tamá ke mānava tuʻo 6.
Ki he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ‘oku tō ma‘ama‘á.
ʻOange ha fo‘i pamu ʻe 2 ʻi he pamu helá.
Ki he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ‘oku tō lotolotó.
ʻOange ha fo‘i pamu ʻe 6 ʻi he pamu helá.
Kapau ʻoku ʻikai ke fakalakalaka kimu‘a hoʻo tamá ‘i he hili ha miniti ʻe 10, toe faka‘aonga‘i pē ʻa e me‘a pamu helá pea sio leva ki ha tokotaha ngāue fakapalofesinale ki he moʻui leleí ‘i he taimi pē ko iá pe telefoni ki he 111.
Ki he ngaahi fakaʻilonga ‘oku fakatu‘utāmakí.
Ko ha tu‘unga fakatu‘utāmaki eni mo fiema‘u ki ai ha ngāue fakavavevave – telefoni ki he 111.
Pea ‘oange leva ha fo‘i pamu ‘e 6 ‘o ngāueʻaki ‘a e pamu helá ʻi he miniti ‘e 10 kotoa pē kaeʻoua kuo toki aʻu atu ʻa e tokoní.
ʻE lava ke vave ha‘ane faka‘au ke kovi ange ʻa e ngaahi fakaʻilonga ʻo e helá.
ʻOua ‘e toe fakatatali ke kumi ki ha tokoni fakavavevave.
Watch an animation on asthma attacks in children in your preferred language.
Key points about asthma attacks
- any child with asthma can have a severe asthma attack
- tamariki with asthma have airways that are sensitive and react to certain triggers
- symptoms of an asthma attack include cough, wheezing and difficulty breathing
- ask your child's doctor for an asthma action plan to follow if they have an asthma attack
See the KidsHealth asthma page for more general information about the condition.
Signs and symptoms of an asthma attack
Many tamariki have only mild asthma. But any child with asthma can have a severe, life-threatening attack.
Asthma attacks happen when your child's asthma symptoms get worse. Symptoms can get worse over a few days, or quite suddenly.
Your child might experience the following symptoms.
Cough
Your child may get a cough. The cough can be worse at night or in the morning, or with exercise.
Wheezing
Wheezing is a musical, whistly sound that tamariki with asthma make, usually when breathing out. It can also happen when they breathe in. The sound comes from the chest, not from the nose or throat.
Difficulty breathing
Your child may feel short of breath - as though they can't get enough air out of their lungs.
They may be breathing fast. Your child may be too breathless to talk in full sentences.
They may be using extra muscles to breathe. You might see:
- sucking or pulling in under the ribcage
- sucking or pulling in between each rib
- using the muscles around the neck during breathing
- flaring of the nostrils - the nostrils move out as your child breathes
Your child may be more comfortable sitting up, so do not make them lie down.
Watch some videos for the signs your child is having difficulty breathing.
Signs That Children Are Struggling To Breathe
Mild, moderate or severe asthma
Mild asthma
Mild symptoms indicating that asthma is worsening can include:
- slight wheeze
- mild cough
- coughing or wheezing when excited or running
Moderate asthma
Moderate symptoms indicating that asthma is worrying can include:
- obvious breathing difficulties
- a continuing cough
- difficulty speaking a complete sentence
Severe asthma
Severe symptoms indicating an asthma emergency can include:
- fear
- having severe difficulty breathing
- gasping for breath
- having difficulty speaking more than one or 2 words
- looking pale and sounding quiet
- complaining that the reliever medicine is not working
- being unresponsive - doesn't answer when spoken to or looks very floppy and tired
- having blue lips and tongue
- having periods of stopping breathing
Actions to take for an asthma attack
Lots of tamariki with asthma will have an asthma plan which you can follow when their symptoms are worse.
Assess
Assess whether your child's asthma attack is mild, moderate or severe.
Sit
Sit your child upright and stay with them. Lean them forward slightly and support their arms either on their knees or on a table.
Treat
You will need to use your child's reliever inhaler with a plastic tube called a spacer. Most reliever inhalers work best with a spacer.
Mild asthma
Treat mild asthma symptoms with 2 puffs (one puff at a time) of a reliever inhaler.
For each puff of the reliever inhaler, your child will need to take 6 breaths through the spacer.
Moderate asthma
Treat moderate symptoms with 6 puffs (one puff at a time) of the reliever inhaler and see a health professional urgently.
For each puff of the reliever inhaler, your child will need to take 6 breaths through the spacer.
Severe asthma - this is an emergency
If your child is having a severe asthma attack now, immediately call 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for emergency medical help.
Keep your child sitting up and give them 6 puffs of the reliever inhaler through the spacer, every 6 minutes until help arrives.
Make sure they take 6 slow breaths for each puff. Keep doing this until they get better or until the ambulance arrives.
Remember: 6 puffs … 6 breaths for each puff … and repeat every 6 minutes.
In severe asthma, it is best to call 111 rather than drive your child in your own car to the hospital.
Photo of a spacer with a reliever inhaler attached.
Help
Try to remain calm yourself and reassure your child. Feeling anxious can make symptoms worse.
You need to take your child to your health professional, or an after-hours clinic, or the hospital if:
- you need to give the reliever inhaler more often than every 2 hours - for example, every 60 or 90 minutes
- there is no improvement 30 minutes after giving 6 puffs of the reliever inhaler
If your child is having a severe asthma attack now, immediately call 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for emergency medical help.
Monitor
Stay with your child and watch carefully, even if they seem to get better. If your child is not finding it easier to breathe, give repeat doses of the reliever inhaler and call an ambulance.
All OK
Your child can return to quiet activities when they no longer wheeze, cough, or feel breathless. Keep monitoring their symptoms and take action if required, following the steps in the action plan. If your child's attacks are becoming more frequent or worrying, see your doctor as soon as possible.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is the national leader in respiratory health knowledge. Their mission is to improve the respiratory health outcomes for New Zealanders. Check out their website for information and resources on asthma and other respiratory conditions.
