Asthma attack

Choose appropriate sized spacer with mask (or mouthpiece if child is over 3 years with good technique and is not significantly short of breath).

1. Shake the inhaler well and remove cap
2. Fit the inhaler into the opening at the end of the spacer
3. Place mask over the child’s face or mouthpiece in their mouth ensuring a good seal
4. Press the inhaler once and allow the child to take slow breaths between each dose 
5. Remove the inhaler and shake between every puff. Wait 1 minute between puffs

Repeat steps 1 – 5 for subsequent doses

Plastic spacers should be washed before 1st use and every month as per manufacturer’s guidelines

For videos on using your child’s inhaler and spacer correctly see goo.gl/235DQf

You may have previously been issued with advice to gradually reduce the number and frequency of puffs of their blue (salbutamol) rescue inhaler over a few days (a weaning plan). We now recognise that ‘weaning plans’ may hide the more serious symptoms which should be reassessed earlier by the GP or in hospital for further potential treatment. As a result, we now use personalised asthma action plans that tailor the amount of rescue medication to your child based on how comfortable they are with their breathing.

Following discharge from hospital you should expect that your child will still require further doses of their rescue inhaler. You should check how they are at least every 3-4 hours to asses whether they need another dose. It may take 2-3 days for symptoms to settle fully.

If they are still having symptoms, give 2 puffs of the rescue inhaler, increasing up to 6 puffs if needed. If this does not settle their symptoms or they need the inhaler more often than every 4 hours you should seek urgent advice.

Other concerning symptoms (as outlined in the table above) include: drowsiness, change in colour, being too breathless to speak or eat, persistent cough or worsening wheeze. If this occurs you should follow the emergency plan and given 10 puffs of the inhaler and call an ambulance.

In the event that your child has been started on steroid tablets, these should be continued once daily (usual treatment course is 3-5 days). You should continue your child’s normal preventer treatment(s) during an acute exacerbation of asthma

You must arrange a GP appointment within 48 hours of discharge to check that their original asthma attack has subsided.

In some circumstances you may be advised to have a higher dose of rescue medication for 1-2 days prior to following your personal asthma action plan.

• Ensure your child always has access to their reliever (blue) inhaler and spacer
• Start reliever treatment early at the start of cold symptoms (such as runny nose). Be vigilant for worsening symptoms and follow the green/amber/red traffic lights on your child's personalised asthma action plan
• Remember to leave a spare reliever inhaler (with/without spacer) at school for your child and ensure that it is kept in date
• Remember to take inhaler with you or your child on any trips away from home
• Always use the correct inhaler device as prescribed for you or your child
• Remember a spacer is the best way to deliver reliever treatment in an emergency
• Remember to keep any follow up appointments and attend their annual GP asthma review and flu vaccine
• If your child has been discharged from hospital following an exacerbation, you should arrange for them to be seen in the next 48 hours by the GP/Practice nurse
• It is important that your child takes their steroid (preventer) inhaler regularly if one is prescribed to reduce the number of exacerbations

• Make sure your child is not exposed to tobacco smoke. Passive smoking can seriously damage your child’s health. It makes breathing problems like asthma worse. Remember smoke remains on your clothes even if you smoke outside. If you would like help to give up smoking you can find information here