Childhood asthma

Asthma is a common lung condition that can make breathing difficult at times. It happens when the airways in the lungs become swollen and sensitive, causing them to narrow.

Asthma can affect people of any age. It often starts in childhood but can also develop in adults.

The main symptoms of asthma are problems with breathing, such as:

wheezing
coughing
shortness of breath
your chest feeling tight

Important thing to remember

Always keep your inhaler with you, so it’s there when you need it.

How to Use Asthma Inhalers

Asthma Inhaler Colour Guide

Asthma inhalers come in different colours to help people know what they are used for. The colours usually show if an inhaler is for daily use or for quick relief when symptoms happen. This guide explains the main inhaler colours and what they mean, so it is easy to see which inhaler does what.

What To Do If You See Someone With Asthma Symptoms

If someone is showing asthma symptoms, staying calm and acting quickly can help. Support them to sit upright and use their inhaler, and encourage slow, steady breathing. If their symptoms do not improve or get worse, it is important to get medical help straight away and stay with them until help arrives.

Ask About Asthma: Jenson’s story

A photo of Jenson holding his Rainbow Distance certificate for completing 2000 metre swim.

A photo of Jenson holding his Rainbow Distance badge for completing 5 metre swim. — A photo of Jenson holding his Rainbow Distance certificate for completing 2000 metre swim.

Asthma hasn’t stopped Jenson from having fun, including swimming. With help from his family, doctors, and the WaterWise swimming programme, Jenson has learned how to manage his asthma. He has grown more confident and earned his 2000m swimming badge.

A big thank you to Active Lincolnshire for sharing this training with us.

Read Jenson’s inspiring story and find tips for keeping children with asthma active: Ask About Asthma: Jenson’s Story | Magna Vitae.

Children in Lincolnshire Living With Asthma

Lauren - Children's Respiratory Nurse with young person using aerochamber spacer

Harriet Brader with Respiratory Specialist Nurse Emma Stones at Skegness Community Diagnostic Centre.

Resources for children

Click on the images below to find out more about these adventurous alternative asthma information booklets.

Resources for parents

There are four simple steps that can help children and young people manage their asthma:

Child and family weight management programme
Excess weight can make asthma symptoms worse, increase inflammation and wheezing.

This is because being obese can affect how well your lungs work. Gloji Energy child and family weight management programme | Healthy Lifestyle Service | One You Lincolnshire, offers exciting and engaging activities that motivate and support families to work towards a healthy weight together.

This is available for:
- Lincolnshire residents
- Children aged 4-12
- Children who are measured on or above the 91st BMI centile. Please check your child’s BMI centile. Calculate your body mass index (BMI) - NHS - NHS
Help your child stay active
As long as your child is managing their asthma well, research shows exercise can cut your child’s risk of asthma symptoms. Most children with asthma can enjoy PE, after-school clubs and other activities along with everyone else. Find out more about keeping active and check out the Let's Move Lincolnshire website for ways to get active locally.

Regular exercise is good for your child’s asthma because it:
- improves how well your child’s lungs work so they have more stamina and get less out of breath
- boosts your child’s immune system so they’re less likely to get coughs and colds which will make their asthma worse
- improves your child’s mood and self-esteem which can influence how well they manage their asthma
- helps your child feel more confident about their asthma, and what they can achieve.
Smoking and asthma

Smoking, or breathing in someone else’s smoke, means you’re at risk of asthma symptoms and an asthma attack.

Babies or young children who are around people smoking take more smoke into their lungs than adults.

And because they're still growing, and their immune system isn't fully developed yet, they're at greater risk from the toxins given out in the smoke.

They’ll be more likely to have chest infections and wheezing and coughing. And could be more at risk of an asthma attack. They’ll also be more likely to go on to develop asthma as they get older.

Help to quit smoking is available in Lincolnshire from One You Lincolnshire, if you are over 12 years old and smoke tobacco.

Their 12-week stop smoking programme means you’ll be 4 times more likely to quit, for good. They’ll look at your history, help you set goals and offer follow-up support and Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). https://www.oneyoulincolnshire.org.uk/pathway/be-smoke-free
Air pollution and asthma

If you have asthma, it’s important to be aware of air pollution levels and know what to do if the levels are high. The British Thoracic Society recommend using the DEFRA air quality forecast to check the air quality in a specific area. There is also useful advice on what to do if the air pollution level is higher than normal, for example reducing the amount of strenuous activity you do that day or walking a to school by a different route to help prevent bringing on asthma symptoms.

VIDEO: NHS Air pollution and you - how to reduce your exposure to air pollution
Damp, mould and asthma
Damp and mould in your house can make you asthma symptoms worse. Mould and damp are usually caused by excessive moisture, which can be from leaking pipes or roofs, rising damp (water than comes up from the ground), or condensation. Condensation is caused by water moisture from inside the home coming into contact with a colder surface, such as a window or wall. The water drops (or condensation) may then soak into the wallpaper or paintwork or even plasterwork and attract black mould to grow on its surface.

Condensation mainly occurs during the colder months, whether it is rainy or dry outside, and is usually found in corners and north facing walls, on or near windows; also in areas of little air circulation such as behind wardrobes and beds, especially when they are pushed up against external walls.

To prevent damp and mould repair any leaks as soon as possible or if you are rented accommodation let your landlord know.

Prevent condensation by:-
- Keeping your home well aired (opening windows) and warm
- When cooking keep lids on your pans and use the extractor fan if you have one
- Use extractor fans in the bathroom when having a shower or bath
- Dry washing outside whenever possible
- Don’t dry clothes on radiators. This will make your boiler work harder to heat your house and cost almost as much as using a tumble dryer, whilst creating a lot of condensation
- If you have to dry clothing indoors and don’t have a tumble dryer, place clothes on a drying rack in a room where a window can be opened slightly and keep the door closed
- No drying rack? Put your clothes on hangers and hang from a curtain pole above a slightly opened window
- If using a tumble direr make sure the vent goes outside
- Leave gaps between furniture and walls so that air can circulate
A guide to condensation, damp and mould in your home leaflet.pdf

If you are concerned about damp and mould or other issues in your house and would like advice you can find information at Good Home Lincs | Lincolnshire (connecttosupport.org). You may also want to complete the health homes assessment Healthy Home Assessment | Lincolnshire (connecttosupport.org) which helps you to identify potential hazards, repairs and maintenance jobs, or home improvements to keep you safe, warm and well at home.

The Clean Air Lincolnshire Project

The Clean Air Lincolnshire Project aims to raise awareness of air pollution, what causes it and how it affects health. It also explains what actions people can take to improve air quality for everyone.

Eight schools in Lincolnshire are taking part in the project. They are using air quality monitoring to encourage action for cleaner air in their local area.

Clean Air Lincolnshire encouraging action for cleaner air across the county (cleanairlincs.org.uk)

Useful links

Training links for professionals

Do you work with or care for children and young people with asthma?

If so, you can access free training to help improve your knowledge and support children and young people with asthma in the best possible way.

Children and young people with asthma | Training links for professionals

You are now able to access free training to improve your knowledge and help to care for children and young people with asthma in the best way possible.

The training is split into four tiers; the first tier targets a range of people working closely with children and young people; such as those based in schools and out of school clubs.

Tiers two, three and four have been designed for healthcare professionals.

NHS England has been working with a national working group for training and education and the training and capabilities are now hosted by Health Education England.

Currently the UK has some of highest death rates in Europe for childhood asthma and outcomes are worse for those living in the most deprived areas.

NHS England is committed to improving outcomes for children and has published the National bundle of care for children and young people with asthma to support asthma care. Progress depends on improving the knowledge and skills of everyone who cares for children with asthma.

This training provides a clear structure for both health and non-healthcare professionals to understand what knowledge they need. Asthma (Children and young people) - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk).

In addition to this there is some learning around air pollution which is also a deliverable for children and young people asthma Clean Air Knowledge Hub for the Health Sector (actionforcleanair.org.uk)

Asthma training for people who may work with children and young people but not directly involved in their asthma care. The free Tier 1 training is available through Health Education Supporting Children's Health and Young People with Asthma (educationforhealth.org)

Please share with colleagues who may have staff that work with Children & Young People.