It can be hard to know if your child is having a mild, moderate, or severe asthma attack, Opens dialog. The following chart may help you. Talk with a doctor if you can't tell how bad your child's symptoms are.
In most cases, you can take care of your child's symptoms at home by looking at your child's asthma action plan. The plan tells you what symptoms to watch for, which medicine your child needs to use, and when to call a doctor or seek emergency treatment.
Gauging the severity of your child's asthma attack
Rapid, and your child may appear preoccupied with breathing. He or she may want to sit upright to help with breathing.
Breath
Mild or no shortness of breath; can speak in full sentences
Short of breath; can speak in short phrases or parts of sentences
Very short of breath; speaks in single words or short phrases
Chest
Does not use or slightly uses chest muscles to breathe
Uses chest and neck muscles to breathe. The skin between, under, and above the ribs collapses inward with each breath.
Uses chest and neck muscles to breathe and may open nostrils wide; may clutch at the chest
Skin
Normal skin colour
Pale skin colour
Very pale or bluish skin colour; may sweat more than normal
Wheezing
Wheezes while breathing out
Wheezes while breathing in and out
Does not wheeze while breathing. This means there may be little or no air in the airways.
Alertness
Normally alert
Normally alert
Not as alert as usual and may appear anxious
It is important to treat your child's asthma attacks quickly. If your child does not improve soon after treating an attack, talk with a doctor.
During attacks, stay calm and soothe your child. This may help your child relax and breathe more easily.
Don't underestimate or overestimate how bad your child's asthma is. It is often hard to know how much breathing difficulty a baby or small child is having. Seek medical care early for babies and small children who have asthma symptoms.
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