Pediatric Asthma Care
Recurring coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing can interfere with a child’s sleep, school, exercise, and everyday activities. Careful evaluation and an individualized treatment plan can help children breathe more comfortably and reduce the risk of serious asthma attacks.
Ages & Stages Pediatric Group provides pediatric asthma evaluation and ongoing management at our Pineville and Gastonia offices.
Schedule an Asthma Appointment
Contact Ages & Stages Pediatric Group to request an appointment.
What Is Pediatric Asthma Care?
Asthma is a long-term condition that causes the airways to become inflamed, sensitive, and narrowed. Symptoms may occur every day, only during illness or exercise, or after exposure to a particular trigger.
Pediatric asthma care may include:
- Evaluation of recurring cough or wheezing
- Diagnosis and assessment of symptom patterns
- Identification of possible triggers
- Spirometry when age appropriate
- Quick-relief and controller medication management
- Inhaler and spacer education
- Nebulizer instruction when prescribed
- Written asthma action plans
- School medication forms
- Follow-up visits
- Coordination with an asthma or allergy specialist when appropriate
The goal is to help children participate in school, sports, sleep, and daily activities with as few limitations as possible.
When Should a Child Be Evaluated for Asthma?
An asthma evaluation may be appropriate when a child experiences:
- Repeated episodes of wheezing
- A cough that frequently returns
- Coughing at night or early in the morning
- Coughing or breathing difficulty during exercise
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Colds that repeatedly settle in the chest
- Breathing symptoms triggered by pollen, dust, smoke, pets, weather, or illness
- Frequent need for quick-relief medication
- Urgent care or emergency visits for breathing problems
- Missed school, interrupted sleep, or limited activity because of respiratory symptoms
Not every cough or episode of wheezing is caused by asthma. A pediatric evaluation helps determine whether asthma or another condition may be contributing to the symptoms.
What Happens During an Asthma Appointment?
The exact evaluation depends on your child’s age, symptoms, medical history, and ability to complete breathing tests.
Review of Symptoms
Your provider will ask when symptoms occur, how long they last, what appears to trigger them, and whether they interfere with sleep, school, exercise, or normal activities.
Medical and Family History
Asthma, allergies, eczema, respiratory illnesses, environmental exposures, medications, and family health history may all provide important information.
Pediatric Examination
The provider evaluates your child’s breathing and overall health. Because asthma symptoms can come and go, the lungs may sometimes sound normal during an appointment.
Spirometry When Appropriate
Spirometry is a breathing test that measures how much air a child can move and how quickly it can be exhaled. Ages & Stages performs spirometry at both offices when the child’s age, symptoms, and ability to follow the testing instructions make it appropriate.
Spirometry is only one part of an asthma evaluation and is not required for every child.
Review of Current Treatment
If your child already uses an inhaler, spacer, nebulizer, or asthma medication, bring it to the appointment. The provider may review how the device is being used and whether the current treatment is controlling symptoms.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed in Children?
There is no single test that diagnoses every case of childhood asthma.
Your child’s provider may consider:
- The pattern and frequency of symptoms
- Known or suspected triggers
- Symptoms during exercise or respiratory illnesses
- Nighttime coughing or breathing problems
- Response to previous asthma medication
- Personal and family history of asthma or allergies
- Physical examination findings
- Spirometry results when available
- Whether another condition could explain the symptoms
Asthma can be especially difficult to diagnose in very young children because they may not be able to complete spirometry and wheezing can have several possible causes. These children may need continued observation, treatment trials, or additional evaluation.
Asthma Medication Management
Asthma treatment is individualized according to the child’s age, symptom pattern, severity, triggers, medical history, and response to medication.
Treatment may include:
Quick-Relief Medication
Quick-relief medication is used according to the child’s treatment plan when asthma symptoms begin or during an asthma attack.
Needing quick-relief medication more frequently than expected may indicate that asthma is not adequately controlled and should be discussed with the provider.
Controller Medication
Some children need controller medication to reduce airway inflammation and help prevent symptoms and attacks.
Controller medication must be used according to the provider’s instructions, including during periods when the child feels well. Parents should not stop or change prescribed asthma medication without speaking with the child’s healthcare provider.
Medication Follow-Up
Follow-up visits allow the provider to review:
- Daytime symptoms
- Nighttime symptoms
- Activity limitations
- Missed school
- Quick-relief medication use
- Asthma attacks
- Urgent or emergency care
- Medication adherence
- Inhaler technique
- Side effects
- Changes in triggers
The treatment plan may be adjusted as the child grows or as symptom patterns change.
Inhaler, Spacer, and Nebulizer Education
Asthma medication only works effectively when it reaches the airways.
Ages & Stages can help families understand:
- Which medication is for quick relief
- Which medication is for long-term control
- When each medication should be used
- How to use an inhaler with a spacer
- When a mask may be needed with a spacer
- How to clean and store asthma equipment
- How to use a nebulizer when one is prescribed
- How to recognize when treatment is not working as expected
Bring your child’s inhalers, spacer, mask, or nebulizer supplies to the appointment when possible. Demonstrating the usual technique helps the provider identify problems that may reduce the medication’s effectiveness.
Written Asthma Action Plans
A written asthma action plan explains how to manage asthma from day to day and what to do when symptoms worsen.
The plan may include:
- Daily medications
- Quick-relief medication instructions
- Common triggers
- Early warning signs
- Steps to take when symptoms increase
- When to contact the pediatrician
- When to seek emergency care
Copies should be shared with the child’s school, daycare, coaches, relatives, and other caregivers.
Ages & Stages can also assist with asthma-related school medication forms when the necessary medical information and forms are available.
Asthma at School, During Exercise, and in Sports
Children with well-managed asthma can often participate fully in exercise and sports.
Tell the provider if your child:
- Coughs or wheezes during activity
- Has to stop exercising because of breathing
- Avoids sports or active play
- Frequently visits the school nurse
- Misses school because of asthma
- Has symptoms during outdoor activities
- Needs medication before exercise
- Does not have medication available at school
The provider can review symptom control, medication use, device technique, and whether the child needs an updated action plan or school documentation.
How to Prepare for an Asthma Appointment
Bring:
- All current inhalers and asthma medications
- Your child’s spacer and mask
- Nebulizer supplies if used
- Previous asthma action plans
- School medication forms
- Records from urgent care or emergency visits
- Pulmonary or allergy testing results
- A list of possible triggers
- Information about nighttime symptoms
- Notes about missed school or limited activities
- Questions about treatment or side effects
If possible, record how often symptoms occur and how frequently quick-relief medication is used. Include symptoms during exercise, sleep, respiratory illnesses, and different seasons.
When Should I Call the Pediatrician?
Contact Ages & Stages Pediatric Group if your child:
- Has increasing coughing or wheezing
- Wakes at night because of asthma
- Cannot participate normally in play or sports
- Uses quick-relief medication more often than expected
- Misses school because of asthma
- Has symptoms that are not responding as usual
- Needs an updated asthma action plan
- Needs school medication forms
- Has difficulty using an inhaler, spacer, or nebulizer
- Has visited urgent care or an emergency department for asthma
- Does not appear to be well controlled on the current treatment plan
Follow your child’s written asthma action plan whenever symptoms begin.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately if your child:
- Is struggling severely to breathe
- Cannot speak in full sentences because of breathing difficulty
- Cannot walk or perform normal activities because of breathing
- Has blue, gray, or unusually pale lips or skin
- Is drowsy, confused, or difficult to wake
- Has skin pulling inward between the ribs or around the neck
- Is not improving after quick-relief medication
- Has another symptom that appears life-threatening
Do not delay emergency care while attempting to contact the pediatric office.
Pediatric Asthma Care at Our Pineville and Gastonia Offices
Ages & Stages Pediatric Group provides asthma evaluation and ongoing management for families in Pineville, South Charlotte, Gastonia, and surrounding communities.
Spirometry is available at both offices when age appropriate. Contact the office to schedule an evaluation, follow-up visit, device-teaching appointment, or asthma action-plan review.
Pineville Pediatric Office
Our Pineville office provides pediatric asthma evaluation, spirometry when appropriate, medication management, inhaler and spacer teaching, nebulizer guidance, written action plans, and follow-up care.
The office serves families throughout Pineville, Ballantyne, South Charlotte, Fort Mill, Indian Land, Matthews, and nearby communities.
Gastonia Pediatric Office
Our Gastonia office provides pediatric asthma evaluation, spirometry when appropriate, medication management, inhaler and spacer teaching, nebulizer guidance, written action plans, and follow-up care.
The office serves families throughout Gastonia, Belmont, Mount Holly, Cramerton, Dallas, Bessemer City, Kings Mountain, and surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether my child has asthma?
Recurring cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, nighttime symptoms, or difficulty breathing during exercise may indicate asthma, but these symptoms can have other causes.
A pediatric evaluation considers the symptom pattern, medical history, physical examination, response to previous treatment, and spirometry when appropriate.
Does every child need spirometry?
No. Spirometry is helpful when a child is old enough and able to follow the testing instructions, but it is not appropriate or necessary in every case.
Ages & Stages performs spirometry at both offices when clinically appropriate.
Can asthma be cured?
Asthma is a long-term condition without a current cure, but it can often be managed effectively. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, preventing attacks, maintaining normal activities, and protecting lung health.
Can children with asthma play sports?
Yes. Many children with asthma participate fully in sports and physical activity. Exercise symptoms may indicate that treatment needs to be reviewed or adjusted.
What is the difference between quick-relief and controller medication?
Quick-relief medication is used according to the treatment plan when symptoms occur. Controller medication is used to reduce airway inflammation and prevent symptoms over time.
Your child’s provider will explain which medications have been prescribed and when each should be used.
Does my child need a spacer with an inhaler?
Many children using a metered-dose inhaler benefit from a spacer or spacer with a mask. The correct device depends on the medication, inhaler type, age, and ability to use it properly.
Bring the inhaler and spacer to the appointment so the provider can review technique.
Is an inhaler or nebulizer better?
Both devices can deliver asthma medication when used correctly. The most appropriate option depends on the child’s age, medication, symptoms, ability to use the equipment, and treatment plan.
Nebulizers should be used only as directed, and parents should receive instructions on proper use and cleaning.
How often should my child have an asthma follow-up?
Follow-up timing depends on symptom control, recent attacks, medication changes, and the child’s overall health. More frequent visits may be needed when asthma is newly diagnosed, poorly controlled, or being treated with a new medication.
Can Ages & Stages complete an asthma action plan for school?
Yes. Ages & Stages provides written asthma action plans and can assist with school medication forms when appropriate. Bring the school’s current forms and your child’s medications to the appointment.
When might my child need an asthma specialist?
A specialist referral may be appropriate when the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms remain difficult to control, serious attacks occur, specialized testing is needed, or another respiratory or allergic condition is suspected.
Schedule a Pediatric Asthma Appointment
Recurring coughing, wheezing, nighttime symptoms, or breathing difficulty should not routinely interfere with your child’s sleep, school, exercise, or play.
Ages & Stages Pediatric Group provides pediatric asthma evaluation, testing, treatment, action plans, device education, and ongoing follow-up at our Pineville and Gastonia offices.
Medical Disclaimer:
This information is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice or an asthma action plan. Follow the treatment and emergency instructions provided by your child’s healthcare professional. Call 911 for severe or life-threatening breathing difficulty.