See the KidsHealth asthma page for more general information about the condition [1].
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.
Your child may get a cough. The cough can be worse at night or in the morning, or with exercise.
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.
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:
Watch some videos for the signs your child is having difficulty breathing [2]
Your child may be more comfortable sitting up, so do not make them lie down.
Mild symptoms indicating that asthma is worsening can include:
Moderate symptoms indicating that asthma is worrying can include:
Severe symptoms indicating an asthma emergency can include:
Lots of tamariki with asthma will have an asthma plan which you can follow when their symptoms are worse.
Assess whether your child's asthma attack is mild, moderate or severe.
Sit your child upright and stay with them. Lean them forward slightly and support their arms either on their knees or on a table.
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 every 4 hours.
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 every 4 hours.
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 dial 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 dial 111 rather than drive your child in your own car to the hospital.
Find out more about asthma medicines for children [3]
Find out about spacers for asthma inhalers [4]
Photo of a reliever inhaler and spacer
Try to remain calm yourself and reassure your child. Feeling anxious can make symptoms worse.
You need to take your child to your GP, or an after-hours clinic, or the hospital if:
If your child is having a severe asthma attack now, immediately dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for emergency medical help.
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.
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.
This page last reviewed 10 July 2023.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/asthma?language=ko
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/signs-children-are-struggling-breathe?language=ko
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/asthma-medicines-children?language=ko
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/spacers-asthma-inhalers?language=ko
[5] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/asthma?language=ko
[6] https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/resources/managing-your-childs-asthma
[7] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2500%3Flanguage%3Dko