If your child needs their reliever puffer more than two days a week, their asthma may not be under control. On May 5 – World Asthma Day - NPS MedicineWise is advising parents and carers that during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important to have children's asthma under control and an up-to-date asthma action plan in place.
"Our advice about having an up-to-date asthma action plan applies to anyone with asthma," says Dr Jill Thistlethwaite, GP and medical adviser at NPS MedicineWise.
"Having an up-to-date asthma action plan is very important right now. Like asthma, COVID-19 affects your breathing. If you get COVID-19, your symptoms may be less severe if your asthma is under control. This may also reduce the risk of having to go to hospital, relieving strain on the healthcare system.
"Your doctor can help you create or update your or your child's asthma plan. This should include which medicines to take, how and when to take them and also what to do in an asthma emergency. It is also really important to check that puffers are being used correctly.
"If asthma is not well controlled, your doctor may make changes to your or your child's medicines and asthma action plan," she said.
