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Tip Sheets

Asthma: Easing the Wheezing

Kyle’s preschool teacher notices that he often misses school because of colds. She hears a wheeze or whistling sound in his breath when he plays hard. Could he have asthma? Asthma is diagnosed in over 6% of children under the age of 5. Asthma causes the airways to swell, tighten, and fill with mucus. Asthma episodes can be life-threatening. Here are some things teachers of young children need to know.

What are the warning signs of asthma in young children?

A child is more likely to develop asthma if a family member has asthma or allergies. Warning signs include

  • frequent coughing, shortness of breath, or complaints of a tight feeling in her chest
  • congestion with colds or colds that seem to last longer for him than for his siblings
  • coughing or wheezing when she plays hard, laughs, or has a temper tantrum
  • dark circles under his eyes

What factors might bring on an asthma episode?

Although the cause of asthma is unknown, some episodes are triggered by

  • smoke, dust, or air pollution
  • allergies, including those to pets, pollen, mold, grass, dust mites, and cockroaches
  • strong odors such as paint fumes and perfume
  • changes in temperature, particularly exposure to cold air
  • exercise or strong emotions
  • respiratory infections such as colds

What is the teacher’s role?

If teachers suspect asthma, they can urge parents to contact their child’s health care provider. For each child who has a history of asthma, teachers and caregivers can

  • help the child avoid known triggers
  • have an action plan prepared by the child’s parents and doctor
  • respond calmly to mild episodes, and use needed equipment or medications quickly

How would a teacher know if a child needs emergency help?

Call 911 if a child

  • is struggling to breathe or if his skin is pulled into his neck or rib cage when he breathes
  • can’t walk or talk easily
  • has a peak flow less than 50%, as measured by a peak flow meter
  • has lips or nails that are blue or gray

Statistics are taken from (1) Akinbami, Lara J. (2006). The state of childhood asthma, United States, 1980-2005. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, 381 (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad381.pdf); and (2) Childhood Asthma Overview(http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22782).

To learn more about asthma in children, visit these resources and Web sites:

Spanish: El manejo del asma

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