A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of asthma to appear. Everyone's asthma is different and your child will probably have several triggers. It can be difficult to identify exactly what triggers your child's asthma. Sometimes the link is obvious, for example when symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact with a cat or dog. But some people can have a delayed reaction to an asthma trigger, so some extra detective work may be needed.
Here are the most common asthma triggers and some advice on what you can do to avoid them.
Colds and flu
These are very common triggers of asthma. They are also almost impossible to avoid!
Flu injections are recommended for everyone who has severe asthma attacks or troublesome asthma
symptoms. Ask your child's doctor or nurse about getting flu jabs each year.
Smoking
Smoking is dangerous for everyone, but particularly for people with asthma. It can irritate the lungs and bring on asthma symptoms. If your child breathes in other people's smoke, it increases the risk of an asthma attack and may permanently damage their airways. You are putting your children at risk of asthma if you smoke around them or during pregnancy.
House-dust mites
Many children with asthma are sensitive to the droppings of house-dust mites. These are tiny insects that live in the dust that builds up around the house, in carpets, bedding, soft furnishings and soft toys. If you know house-dust mites trigger your asthma, it may be that combining a range of the measures below can be beneficial in reducing symptoms , though this cannot be guaranteed .
- Use complete barrier covering systems on your child's mattress, duvet and pillow
- Where possible replace all carpets with hard flooring
- Vacuum all areas frequently. Use a vacuum cleaner that has good suction and a filtered exhaust that does not scatter dust. Damp dust all surfaces or use an attachment on your vacuum cleaner
- Remove all soft toys from beds. Put them into a bag in the freezer for a minimum of six hours every one to two weeks to kill house-dust mites
- Hot wash (at 60°C) sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases once a week. Although some people are allergic to feathers, there is no conclusive evidence to show that synthetic, 'hypo-allergenic' pillows are any better
- Clean your soft furnishings with anti-house-dust mite chemicals
- Use a dehumidifier to dry the air, as this makes it more difficult for the house-dust mites to survive
Pets
Furry and feathered animals are a common trigger of asthma symptoms. The allergens are found in their saliva, flakes of skin (pet dander), fur and urine. Top tips for parents who know their child's asthma is triggered by pets:
- If you cannot find a new home for your pet, ensure that they don't go in your child's bedroom
- Bathing cats and dogs twice weekly can help. Ask your vet for advice on how to do this properly
Exercise
Some people with asthma find that exercise triggers symptoms. However, exercise is good for everyone, including children with asthma. If your child's asthma is well controlled, they should be able to join in, have fun and keep fit. If their asthma symptoms worsen during or after exercise it could be a sign that their asthma is poorly controlled.
Taking part in sports is an essential part of school life. PE teachers are aware of which children have asthma from the asthma register. Children with asthma are encouraged to participate fully in PE. Teachers will remind children whose asthma is triggered by exercise to take their reliever inhaler before the lesson and complete a warm up of a couple of short sprints over five minutes before the lesson. Each child's inhalers will be labelled and kept in a box at the site of the lesson. If a child needs to use their inhaler during the lesson they will be encouraged to do so.
Pollen
Pollen grains can trigger asthma symptoms in some people. If your child's asthma is triggered by pollen, try the following top tips to reduce symptoms in the pollen season:
- Review your child's treatment with your doctor or nurse in advance of the hay fever season
- Look out for pollen forecasts on the television, in newspapers or on the internet. If high counts are forecast in your region, try to reduce time spent outside
Moulds and fungi
Moulds release tiny seeds called spores into the air, which can trigger asthma symptoms in some people. Mould spores are found in any damp place - from piles of autumn leaves and woody areas to bathrooms, kitchens and even piles of damp clothes.
Top tips:
- Ensure the house is well ventilated
- Ensure damp in the home is treated
Weather
A sudden change in temperature, cold air, windy days, poor air quality and hot, humid days are all known triggers for asthma.
- Make sure your child takes his or her usual dose of asthma medicine before going out on cold, dry days
- If it is cold and windy, your child should wear a scarf over his or her face - this will help to warm up the air before they breathe it in
- Children with asthma should avoid going out in the middle of the day on hot, smoggy days
- Thunderstorms can release large quantities of pollen into the air and trigger asthma attacks
Food
Most children with asthma do not have to follow a special diet. In some cases, certain foods including cow's milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, yeast products, nuts, and some food colourings and preservatives, can make symptoms worse. People with asthma are also recommended to avoid Royal Jelly products as they may trigger symptoms. If you think your child has a food allergy, contact your doctor or nurse for further advice.
Asthma at school
Things that trigger asthma attacks commonly found in schools include furry or feathery animals, chemicals or fumes and cigarette smoke. Avoiding these in the school environment can go some way to lessening the chance of asthma attacks.
As far as possible, teachers should avoid using fumes that trigger children with asthma in science and craft lessons. Fume cupboards should be used in science lessons if possible. If fumes are known to trigger a child's asthma, teachers should allow them to leave the room until they are no longer affected.
You may want to find out if the school has an asthma policy. You can find the National Asthma Campaign's recommendations here: http://www.asthma.org.uk/about/resource07.php
Remember, controlling your child's asthma is not just about avoiding triggers. They need to take regular asthma medication as well.
If, despite all the precautions, your child has an asthma attack:
- Ensure that the reliever inhaler is taken immediately. This is usually blue and opens up the narrowed air passages.
- Stay calm and reassure the child as attacks can be frightening. Listen carefully to what the child is saying. It is very comforting to have a hand to hold but do not put your arm around the child's shoulder as this is restrictive.
- Help the child to breathe. Encourage the child to breathe slowly and deeply. Most children find it easier to sit upright or lean forward slightly. Lying flat on the back is not recommended. Ensure tight clothing is loosened and offer the child a drink of water.
- If no improvement, continue to give puff of reliever inhaler every minute until symptoms improve.
- Call 999 if no improvement within 5-10 minutes, if the child is too breathless to talk, if their lips are blue, or if you have any doubts about their condition. Continue to give medication - reliever medications are very safe and it is not harmful to take a high dose.
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