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Talking to your child about their asthma
Hearing the words, "Your child has asthma," can mean a mixed bag of emotions for many parents. Some may feel relief to finally know what ails their child, while still others find themselves at a loss. The concept of teaching their child about a life-long chronic illness may seem intimidating. Parents need to take an open and honest approach with their children. They must also recognize that their child is not burdened with an unmanageable disease, but that he or she is simply a child with asthma. Parental guidance, child involvement key to
success Parents must not let their sympathy for their child’s illness overshadow risks to their child’s health. If your child asks to participate in an activity that could aggravate an asthma attack, simply make the ruling, share your concerns and move on. Letting your child see your guilt or fears will not help him or her come to grips with their disease. Love, understanding and support will go much farther in making an impression. Some adolescents, in particular, may find it difficult to accept an asthma diagnosis, which makes parental guidance and vigilance in a treatment plan all the more vital. It’s not uncommon for children with asthma to experience feelings of poor self-esteem. School children or adolescents may dismiss or minimize their symptoms in order to "pretend they are normal" and may avoid taking medications in front of their peers. So, how do you, as a caregiver tackle the issue? Increase child’s responsibility as they age Preschoolers can help parents in peak flow monitoring and discuss symptoms with their parents. This involvement in their own health care with close parental supervision will help the child understand the concept of the disease and what triggers his or her attacks. School-age children are more able to identify and understand asthma triggers and risks and should be given the freedom to play and participate in sports with their peers. Adolescence should mark the beginning of the child’s active involvement in an asthma management plan. Children should actively participate in disease management, medication and goal setting. Parents should stress the consequences of failure to manage asthma. Adolescents should be nearly independent in taking medications, peak flow monitoring and structuring the asthma management plan. At this point, parents need to step back and allow their child to take control of their own health, but yet keep lines of communication open and intervene if necessary. Developing an asthma management plan with teenagers may be challenging. Teens vary in their responses to asthma diagnoses, but as a rule, they resist chronic monitoring and frequently stop taking their medications or only take them intermittently. Parents should assume that all teens are risk-takers. Treatment plans for teenagers need to be as simple as possible so they will not be tempted to not follow through. Peer pressure is a major factor for teens that fail to adhere to treatment and management plans. Sometimes the desire to fit into a social group wins out against the teen’s own personal health. Parents and asthma care providers may want to counteract this pressure through "contracts" with their teens that outline a management plan and offer rewards and consequences. Independence brings responsibility Once children develop a clear understanding of the disease, find a simple management plan and feel in control of their own lives, they are more likely to make informed, mature decisions on their own. They also soon realize their disease does not define or limit who they are. Tips for Parents Toddlers:
Preschoolers:
School-age children:
Pre-teens:
Teens:
This article was written and medically reviewed: March 31, 2000 Information for this educational article was
derived from the document: Known as the Pediatric Asthma Guide for short, it represents the collective work of many people and many organizations. It is the only document for treating childhood asthma that is endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Guide is based on guidelines developed by the NAEPP. This pediatric initiative adapted those guidelines into an easily-referenced, user-friendly, pediatric-focused document for medical professionals. The Guide is but one part of a larger initiative committed to ensuring that a broad spectrum of health care providers learn about, understand and implement clinical and best practice information for diagnosing and managing children with asthma. |
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© 1996-2008 · All Rights Reserved · American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology |
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