Back To School: How To Deal With Asthma Attacks

Asthma in kids is a common condition that makes it hard for kids to breathe sometimes. For children with asthma, going back to school can bring new challenges — like staying on top of medications and avoiding triggers in the classroom or playground. With the right plan, your child can stay healthy, safe and ready to learn.

In this blog:

• What is asthma? What is an asthma attack?
• How to deal with asthma attacks
• Asthma symptoms and signs in kids
• What does an asthma attack feel like?
• How long do asthma attacks last?
• Managing asthma and asthma attacks in kids at school
• Asthma in children: Tips for going back to school
• Asthma in toddlers: Preschool
• Asthma attacks: Prevention and management

What is asthma? What is an asthma attack?

Asthma is a condition where the airways in the lungs become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe. It often begins in early childhood — some babies and toddlers may show signs of asthma, like wheezing or frequent coughing, especially at night or during play. While asthma can improve over time, many children continue to have symptoms into their teen years or even adulthood. Some adults are also diagnosed for the first time later in life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 12 school-age children in the U.S. has asthma, making it one of the most common chronic conditions in kids.

An asthma attack happens when the muscles around the airways tighten and the lining inside the airways swells, often triggered by things like exercise, allergies, cold air or even stress. The attack can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness. Asthma attacks can be scary, especially for children, but with the right treatment and an action plan, they can be managed. Many kids with asthma lead full, active lives when their symptoms are well controlled.

How to deal with asthma attacks

Asthma attacks at school can be scary. When parents, children, teachers and school medical personnel are all educated and aware, an asthma attack at school becomes more manageable.

First, make sure your child has an updated asthma action plan on file with the school nurse and any teachers or staff who work closely with them. This plan should outline what medications your child takes, what their asthma symptoms look like and what to do during an asthma attack. It’s also important to make sure your child always has access to their quick-relief inhaler (also called a rescue inhaler) and that they know how and when to use it. For younger children, a teacher or school nurse should know how to help.

It also helps to talk with your child about their asthma triggers — like pollen, cold air, dust or exercise — and how to avoid them during the school day. Letting teachers know about these triggers can help them make small adjustments, like allowing your child to stay indoors during high-pollen days or ensuring the classroom is free of strong scents or dust. Encourage your child to speak up if they start feeling asthma symptoms like coughing, chest tightness or trouble breathing. The more prepared the adults around them are, the safer and more confident your child will feel managing their asthma at school.

Asthma symptoms and signs in kids

Look out for these asthma symptoms and signs, especially if they happen often or during play, at night or after being around known triggers:

• Chest tightness or pain
• Frequent coughing, especially at night or after physical activity
• Getting tired quickly during play or exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping due to coughing or breathing issues
• Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)

If your child shows any of these symptoms regularly, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician. The doctor may recommend breathing tests, ask about your child’s health history or refer you to a pediatric pulmonologist (a lung specialist). Early diagnosis and treatment can help your child breathe easier, stay active and avoid serious asthma attacks.

What does an asthma attack feel like?

An asthma attack can feel different for each child, but it often starts with a tight feeling in the chest — like it’s hard to take a full breath. Many kids say it feels like trying to breathe through a straw or like there’s a weight on their chest. They might start coughing a lot, wheeze (a whistling sound when breathing) or say it hurts to breathe. Some kids may feel panicked or scared because they can’t catch their breath, especially if the symptoms get worse quickly.

During a more severe attack, breathing can become very fast or very shallow. A child might have trouble speaking in full sentences or look pale or anxious. In these moments, it’s important to stay calm, help them use their quick-relief inhaler and follow their asthma action plan. If the asthma symptoms don’t improve after using medication — or get worse — it’s time to call a doctor or seek emergency care.

How long do asthma attacks last?

The length of an asthma attack can vary depending on how severe it is and how quickly it's treated:

• Mild asthma attacks might last just a few minutes and go away after using a quick-relief (rescue) inhaler.
• Moderate to severe attacks can last longer — anywhere from several minutes to a few hours — and may require additional medication or medical attention.

The sooner an asthma attack is recognized and treated, the shorter and less serious it tends to be. That’s why it’s so important for kids with asthma to carry their rescue inhaler and have an action plan in place.

Managing asthma and asthma attacks in kids at school

“What happens if my daughter has an asthma attack and isn't carrying her inhaler?” 

“Will my son’s new teacher know what to do if he has an asthma attack during class?”

These are questions that parents of children with asthma find themselves asking each year.

And while it’s perfectly normal to worry about your children’s health, taking a few precautions as class gets back in session should help you stay on top of things and alleviate some of your worry as a parent of a child with asthma.

Asthma in children: Tips for going back to school

Children need to …

• Always keep their emergency asthma inhaler with them. This is one of the most important things to remember. In Texas, it’s legal for children to carry asthma-related medicine with them while at school with a doctor’s note. Usually, school nurses hold onto and give children medicine, but for kids with asthma, they can and should carry their rescue medication with them during the school day.
• Use a kids asthma inhaler. Kids who have exercise-induced asthma should use their inhaler 15–20 minutes before recess. Ask your pediatrician or pulmonologist if your son or daughter happens to fall in this subset of asthmatics.
• Keep their asthma medication to themselves. Under no circumstances should they share their medication with their friends or classmates.

Parents need to … 

• Talk with teachers and the school nurse about their child’s asthma and conditions before the school year starts. This is commonly done when filling out forms during class registration. Speaking face-to-face with a teacher about your child’s asthma is a good way to make sure everyone is aware about the asthma and your child’s asthma inhaler.
• Teach and educate kids about asthma and their health condition. If a child is old enough to communicate, they’re old enough to know they have asthma and should be able to recognize asthma symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath). Symptoms can be taught from an early age through discussions with your pediatrician.

Teachers need to …

• Be aware of kids with asthma in their class. A little background research on the teacher's part can prevent hesitation or panic if a child has an asthma attack.
• Recognize symptoms of a child’s asthma. It’s not always shortness of breath or wheezing out loud; constant coughing can be a symptom. Know asthma symptoms and what an asthma attack looks like. Some kids with asthma can get so tight that they don’t have enough air to move to cause wheezing. Again, discussions with the parent of an asthmatic child are important.
• Stay calm with any asthma attacks in kids. Children take cues from how adults react. Even if children don’t have their rescue inhaler, stay calm, sit them down and get them into a comfortable environment. Call 911 if the child continues to have trouble breathing.

Asthma in toddlers: Preschool

If your toddler has been diagnosed with asthma and is starting preschool, it’s important to prepare ahead of time. Share your child’s asthma action plan with the school and make sure staff know how to spot early symptoms and use a rescue inhaler or spacer, if needed.

Pack any medications your child may need in a clearly labeled bag and check that they’re stored properly at school. It’s also helpful to talk with your child’s teacher about avoiding asthma triggers like dust, strong smells or outdoor play on high-pollen days. With clear communication and a plan in place, your child can stay safe and thrive in their new preschool environment.

Asthma attacks: Prevention and management

In addition to using a quick-relief inhaler during an asthma attack, many children take daily controller medications to reduce airway inflammation and prevent attacks from happening in the first place. These are often inhaled corticosteroids and are safe for long-term use under a doctor’s supervision.

Other ways to help manage and prevent asthma attacks include:

• Avoiding triggers such as pollen, pet dander, cold air, smoke or dust mites
• Using an air purifier in your home, especially in bedrooms
• Getting the flu shot is important and keeping up with other recommended vaccines, since respiratory infections can worsen asthma
• Getting regular checkups with your pediatrician or asthma specialist to track symptoms and adjust medications as your child grows
• Teaching kids to recognize their own symptoms, especially as they get older

Get help from asthma experts

Texas Children’s Asthma Center treats kids with asthma and helps manage asthma symptoms. We’ll evaluate your child for asthma and develop a personalized asthma management plan.