© ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / TKATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ
We all know how brutal cold and flu season can be, and it’s even harder for kids with asthma. Studies show viruses cause more than a whopping 80 percent of asthma attacks, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And don’t forget about allergies, which flare up when the weather changes.
If your kid gets an upper respiratory infection—runny nose and all—the virus can travel down through her lower airways, causing them to become inflamed and obstructed: the perfect storm for an asthma attack.
Here’s how to prevent a flare-up:
• Make sure she thoroughly washes her hands (viruses are commonly spread through contact with the hands via the nose or eyes).
• Try to avoid areas with big crowds of people.
• Keep her equipped with an albuterol MDI/inhaler. Even if her asthma is mild, an inhaler can keep wheezing and coughing from progressing into an attack.
If your child has serious asthma, get her an inhaler with a steroid. Be sure to ask your doc to teach her how to use it in case there’s an emergency and you’re not there.