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Select treatment area Bladder & Kidneys Blood Brain & nervous system Cancer Children's health Diabetes Digestive system Ear, nose & throat Eating & weight Eyes Fertility Heart and circulation Hormones Infections Lungs & breathing Men's health Mental health Mouth Muscles & bones Pregnancy & childbirth Sexual health Skin Sleep Staying healthy Travel health Women's health

If your child has been diagnosed with asthma, you may want to talk to your doctor to find out more.

Here are some questions that you might want to ask.

• How do you know for sure my child has asthma?
• Could my child's symptoms be caused by something else, such as a cold?
• Why does my child have asthma?

• What treatment does my child need?
• Can you explain the difference between the medications?
• When should my child use a medication to relieve asthma and when should he or she use a preventer?
• Does this treatment have side effects?
• Can you show us how to use the inhaler correctly?
• Do you think my child needs a spacer device or a nebulizer?
• How can I tell if my child's asthma isn't being controlled well?
• What should I do if the quick-relief medications don't seem to be helping my child's breathing?
• When should I take my child to the emergency room?

• Should my child have an allergy test?
• Is there anything I can do to keep my child from having asthma attacks?
• My child gets asthma during exercise. Should I stop my child from doing sports?
• What should I tell my child's teachers or after-school care providers? Should the day-care center or school keep medications for my child?
• Will my child grow out of having asthma?

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.