Current Environment:

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes the airways in the lungs to narrow and swell, making it difficult to breath. Everyday triggers in the environment, such as weather, dust, chemicals, smoke, and pet dander, create an even greater sensitivity for asthma sufferers.

As the most common chronic medical condition among children in the U.S., asthma often is the reason why children are seen in the emergency department or admitted to the hospital. It's also the most common reason why children are absent from school.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Symptoms of asthma are caused by inflammation, which causes narrowing of small air passages in the lungs. Symptoms may include:

  • wheezing
  • cough
  • difficulty breathing
  • chest tightness

Asthma ranges from mild with occasional symptoms to severe with persistent symptoms that make daily life difficult. Even children with mild disease may have severe asthma episodes (exacerbations).

What causes asthma?

The risk factors for developing asthma include:

How we care for asthma

In addition to your primary care provider, Boston Children’s Hospital has two specialty departments that can help children with asthma — the Division of Immunology and the Division of Pulmonary Medicine. We often work together to treat your child.

The Division of Immunology evaluates and treats children with various allergic disorders to inhaled particles, food, insect stings, and drugs. We offer treatments ranging from oral and inhaled medications to immunotherapy (also known as allergy shots, or allergen desensitization). We also do skin testing to determine what your child is allergic to.

In the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, we can help make or confirm the diagnosis of asthma and rule out other breathing disorders that may have similar symptoms. We provide recommendations for treatment, teach children and families the proper way to use medications, and provide long-term follow-up, when needed. We pay special attention to measuring children’s lung function and following their lung development over time in our state-of-the-art pulmonary function testing labs.

The Severe Asthma Program is a collaborative clinical program staffed by pulmonologists, allergists, asthma nurse specialists, and social workers. We treat children who continue to have asthma that is difficult to control even when treated with standard therapies. The Severe Asthma Program team provides an extensive evaluation and management plan, and the team is available to consult with your primary asthma provider about your care or provide you with long-term care for your severe asthma.

Diagnosis & Treatments

How is asthma diagnosed?

If your child is exhibiting signs of asthma, such as wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath, it's important to visit your primary-care provider. Your doctor will request a complete medical history, evaluate the symptoms and conduct a physical exam. There are also several tests that may be performed, including spirometry, a test that estimates the narrowing of the bronchial tubes by measuring the amount of air the lungs can hold and the speed of your child's ability to inhale or exhale.

What are the treatment options for asthma?

The goals of each child's treatment program is to prevent asthma attacks, prevent emergency room visits and to maximize peace of mind. Your child will be prescribed medications to:

  • help control the asthma
  • improve breathing
  • relieve symptoms
  • get back to regular activities

Although the is no cure for asthma, there are many treatments available. For the most part, it can be controlled and managed with proper use of medication and, when possible, avoiding triggers. Children with asthma can to do everything their friends can do, including playing sports at any level, when their asthma is well controlled.

Patient Resources

Download the following education sheets:

Please use this link to access asthma education sheets in other languages.

Asthma instructional videos

Below you can view videos in English and Spanish.

Watch: Instructional asthma videos

How to use a nebulizer with a facemask

 

How to use a nebulizer with a mouthpiece

 

How to use an Asmanex inhaler

 

How to use the Auvi Q
 

 

How to clean an inhaler and spacer

 

How to use a Diskus inhaler
 

 

How to use an Ellipta inhaler
 

 

How to use the Epinephrine auto injector

 

How to use an EpiPen
 

 

How to use inhaler with spacer and facemask

 

How to use inhaler with spacer and mouthpiece

 

How to use a peak flow meter
 

 

How to use a Pulmicort Flexhaler

 

How to use the QVAR
Redihaler

 

How to use a RespiClick
inhaler

 

How to use the Respimat inhaler

 

The importance of an asthma action plan

 

Watch: Videos instructivos sobre el asma

Cómo usar un inhalador con espaciador y mascarilla

 

Cómo usar un inhalador con espaciador y boquilla

 

Cómo limpiar el inhalador y el espaciador

 

Cómo utilizar un nebulizador con mascarilla

 

Cómo usar un nebulizador con boquilla

 

Cómo usar un inhalador Diskus

 

Cómo usar un inhalador Asmanex

 

Cómo usar un dispositivo Pulmicort Flexhaler

 

Cómo usar un medidor de flujo máximo

 

Cómo usar el inhalador Ellipta

 

Cómo usar el sistema de inyección Auvi-Q

 

Cómo usar un auto-inyectador de epinefrina

 

Cómo usar un EpiPen

Cómo usar el inhalador QVAR RediHaler

Cómo usar un inhalador RespiClick

Cómo usar un inhalador Respimat

Importancia del plan de acción contra el asma

Programs & Services

Programs

Aerodigestive Center

Program

The Aerodigestive Center sees children who have trouble swallowing or breathing or who have related gastrointestinal issues in addition to respiratory symptoms.

Allergy and Asthma Program

Program

The Allergy and Asthma Program evaluates children with all types of allergic problems.

Atopic Dermatitis Center

Program

The Atopic Dermatitis Center helps children and adolescents cope with severe atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Center for Young Women's Health

Program

The Center for Young Women's Health is an education center for teen girls and young women, their families, and health care providers.

Community Asthma Initiative

Program

The Community Asthma Initiative (CAI) was developed to help improve the health and quality of life of children with asthma and their families.

Intermediate Care Program

Program

The Intermediate Care Program hosts children who require more intensive nursing care than general inpatient floors can provide.

Medical Intensive Care Unit

Program

The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is a 22-bed facility dedicated to the care of children with a wide range of critical illness diagnoses.

Severe Asthma Program

Program

The Severe Asthma Program serves children with severe asthma who haven't responded to common treatment methods.

Departments

Immunology

Department

The Division of Immunology treats asthma, allergies, immune system disorders, skin diseases, and rheumatologic and inflammatory conditions.

Pulmonary Medicine

Department

The Division of Pulmonary Medicine serves children with acute and chronic respiratory conditions.

Best Childrens Hospital US News & World Report Honor Roll 2023-24 Badge