Asthma Action Plan

As kids and parents settle into the new school year, doctors advise children with a history of asthma to take some extra precautions.

Asthma, which affects nearly five million U.S. children, is the leading cause for missed days from school.

As the fall season begins, children get more colds. Dr. Ray Davis, a pediatric allergist with St. Louis Children's Hospital, says youngsters with untreated asthma get hit hardest, and their illness settle in the chest, causing difficulty breathing. Dr. Davis says that asthmatic children show the best improvement with on-going preventive care, the cornerstone of which is a detailed "action plan."

"They hand the plan on their refrigerator as a reminder to them what to take on a daily preventive basis," explains Dr. Davis. "And then they have to have a plan of attack in case the child starts getting a cold or cough -- what to do next. And if that's not working a plan 'b' and plan 'c,' so they know when to call, and hopefully the child is seen before they end up in the emergency room"

Dr. Davis recommends making a doctor's appointment now for any child with a previous diagnosis of asthma.

For mild asthma, avoiding certain environmental triggers and having an emergency medication on hand may be all the prevention necessary. In moderate to severe cases, he says a daily, inhaled steroid medication can prevent an attack by treating inflammation in the lungs.

In addition to lost days from school, asthma is a leading cause of children's visits to emergency rooms. But Davis emphasizes with on-going care, most children with asthma can avoid serious attacks -- and have the best opportunity for a successful school year.