Asthma and Your Child

At Southwestern Pediatrics in Maricopa, AZ, your pediatrician, Dr. Anthony DiGeorge, and nurse practitioners, Sultan Ayoub and Lisa Baba, offer treatments that help keep your child's asthma under control. In between appointments, these four steps will help you manage your son or daughter's condition:

Follow the plan

Consulting the plan you received when your child was first diagnosed with asthma can help your child avoid flareups. The plan should include information on medications, your child's asthma triggers, steps to reduce flareups, signs of flareups, and what to do if your child's condition worsens.

If you don't have a written plan or lost your plan, call our Maricopa office.

Decrease exposure to asthma triggers

Common triggers include exposure to tobacco smoke and scented products, changes in the weather, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), physical activity and allergies to pollen, mold or dust.

If your child has allergies or GERD, taking medication as prescribed can reduce asthma symptoms. Reduce your child's exposure to allergens by frequently vacuuming and mopping floors, keeping pets out of your child's bedroom, avoiding feather or down bedding and pillows, and running your air-conditioner or HEPA filter to remove allergens from the air.

Give your child his or her asthma medication every day

The daily medication your child takes, whether it's a pill or inhaled medication, prevents their airways from becoming inflamed or irritated. If your son or daughter doesn't use the medication as recommended, asthma symptoms may worsen.

Recognize the signs of a flareup

Your child may begin to wheeze, cough, or become more easily fatigued if their asthma worsens. Follow the instructions in the asthma plan if you notice that your child is experiencing a flareup. The plan may advise using a fast-acting inhaled medication or adjusting your son or daughter's daily medication dosage. If your child continues to experience issues, let their pediatrician know immediately.

Prioritize your child's health

Managing your child's asthma symptoms can help reduce flareups. Call your pediatrician in Maricopa, AZ, Dr. DiGeorge, and nurse practitioners, Sultan Ayoub and Lisa Baba, at (520) 568-9500 to schedule an appointment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the office is offering well visits during the morning and sick visits in the afternoon.