Asthma is a common breathing condition. It affects the small and medium-sized airways (bronchi) in the lungs.
In asthma, your child's airways are inflamed and there is:
These changes cause narrowing of your child's airways. This leads to wheezing, cough and difficulty with breathing.
Wheezing is a musical, whistly sound that tamariki 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.
One in 4 tamariki in New Zealand will have asthma at some time during childhood.
It is not clear why some tamariki have asthma when others do not.
Asthma in tamariki is more likely if:
Modern Western lifestyle may play a part in the rise in asthma that has happened over the last few decades. Changes in housing, diet and a more hygienic environment may contribute. Outdoor environmental pollution may make asthma symptoms worse but it does not actually cause asthma. Experts continue to study the reasons for the increase in asthma.
Tamariki and rangatahi with asthma have airways that are sensitive and react to certain triggers.
Some tamariki have asthma all year round. Others may only have it in certain seasons or situations.
Viruses like colds and the flu can cause some tamariki to have worse asthma symptoms which may lead to an asthma attack.
If your child is allergic to things like pollens, grass, dust or pet fur, this can worsen their asthma.
Irritants may trigger asthma attacks. Examples or irritants are air pollution, car exhaust, vapours and mouldy environments.
Tobacco smoke can trigger asthma attacks and can make your child's asthma symptoms worse. All tamariki need a smoke-free environment, wherever they happen to be.
Exercise and physical activity are a big part of helping tamariki stay healthy and fit. Exercise is also an important part of asthma management. But, sometimes exercise or activity can trigger an episode of asthma.
Some tamariki may find a change in the weather or certain conditions, like cold or damp weather, can make their asthma worse.
Some tamariki need to be on a preventer medicine.
See the KidsHealth page on the different types of asthma medicines and when to use them [1].
Other things that can help your child's asthma include:
Make sure your child's environment is smoke-free, wherever they happen to be. Asthma increases in tamariki whose parents smoke. Tobacco smoke also triggers asthma attacks and makes a child's asthma more severe. Many environmental factors contribute to asthma. Cigarette smoke is one that you can avoid.
If you want to give up smoking:
Check out some tips for keeping your home warm and dry [3].
Asthma symptoms and triggers may differ from child to child and from time to time. It is useful to know your child's triggers. Keep a symptom diary and keep a record of possible triggers.
See your doctor and ask about asthma if your child:
These are some of the symptoms of asthma in tamariki. But, these symptoms may be due to other less common conditions. Talk to your doctor.
Find about about the different types of medicines to treat asthma in tamariki [1].
You can use the Asthma + Respiratory Foundation NZ's online learning tool [4] to learn more about how you can help tamariki with asthma stay fit, healthy and happy.
You can read the following translated booklets alongside the online learning tool above.
Read a booklet about managing your child's asthma in te reo Māori (PDF, 3.06 MB) [6]
Read a booklet about managing your child's asthma in English (PDF, 3.59 MB) [7]
Read a booklet about managing your child's asthma in Samoan (PDF, 3.05 MB) [8]
Watch some videos about managing asthma in children and young people [9].
Find out about mild, moderate and severe asthma attacks and what to do if your child has one [10].
Asthma is a long-term condition. The majority of tamariki with asthma have less troublesome asthma as teenagers. Symptoms can appear again in adulthood. If your child has severe asthma, it is more likely to continue or return in later life.
Your child should learn about asthma and gradually take over responsibility for its management, as they become a teenager, with support from you.
Photo of inhaler and spacer taken by KidsHealth team.
This page last reviewed 10 July 2023.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/asthma-medicines-children
[2] https://quit.org.nz/
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/keeping-your-home-warm-dry
[4] https://learnaboutlungs.asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz/
[5] https://learnaboutlungs.asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz
[6] https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/assets/documents/MYCA-MAO-Web.pdf
[7] https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/assets/documents/Managing-your-childs-asthma.pdf
[8] https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/assets/documents/14957_Asthma-Booklet_022_SAM.PDF
[9] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/managing-asthma-children-young-people
[10] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/asthma-attacks-children
[11] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/asthma
[12] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1569?language=mi
[13] https://www.asthma.org.nz/pages/download-a-brochure
[14] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2286?language=mi
[15] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1570?language=mi
[16] https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/passive-smoking
[17] https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/asthma-and-your-child-a-resource-pack-for-parents-and-carers
[18] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1571?language=mi
[19] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1572?language=mi
[20] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F30%3Flanguage%3Dmi