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The aim of the Written Asthma Action Plan (WAAP) is to help a child with asthma and/or their parent/caregiver to take early action to prevent or reduce the severity of an asthma attack. In most children with asthma, a change in symptoms indicates that his/her asthma is getting worse.
The Written Asthma Action Plan also empowers parents to manage a severe and life-threatening asthma attack by providing a record of the child’s asthma symptoms and medications. This plans also prompts parents when it is an asthma emergency and they should call for an ambulance to bring their child to hospital.
Once you and your doctor have completed your child’s asthma action plan, keep it within reach and update it regularly. You might like to make extra copies for your child’s regular caregivers, i.e. grandparents and teachers. Please review and update this plan regularly with your child’s doctor, as his/her level of asthma severity or control may change over time. Please, also, remember to bring your child’s inhaler device and spacer to every hospital/clinic visit.
Notes:
Preventer / controller asthma medicines reduce inflammation, swelling and mucus in the airways. Preventers need to be taken everyday, even when the child is well.
Reliever asthma medicines help you to breathe more easily by opening the airways to the lungs. It is of vital importance that your child carries his/her reliever with him/her all the time—it may come in essential in an asthma emergency. Preventer inhalers should not be used for quick/urgent relief of asthma symptoms, unless your doctor has specifically told you to do so.
KKH Written Asthma Action Plan
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GREEN ZONE: WELL
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USE PREVENTER MEDICINE DAILY |
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Symptoms
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Preventer |
How much |
How often |
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No asthma symptoms: no cough, wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, or night waking. |
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____________ puffs |
______ times/day |
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_________ tablet/sachet |
_____ times/day
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Use Reliever only as needed.
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YELLOW ZONE: UNWELL
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STEP UP PREVENTER + RELIEVER medicines |
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Symptoms |
Continue or increase Preventer |
How much |
How often |
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*Flu-like symptoms: fever, runny nose, sore throat, mild cough.
*Wake at night due to asthma symptoms
*Have day-time asthma symptoms more than 2 times
*Used reliever more than 2 times a day
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____________ puffs |
______ times/day |
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*There is haze (PSI>100) |
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______________tablet/sachet |
______ times/day
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Use Reliever until the child recovers.
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Salbutamol 2 puffs |
3 to 4 times/day |
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Avoid strenuous activities and physical exercise. If the child is not better, go to Orange Zone. If child improves after 7–14 days, go back to Green Zone.
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ORANGE ZONE: CAUTION
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ASTHMA ATTACK |
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Symptoms
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Medicine |
How much |
How often |
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*When your child has wheezing, breathless-ness, or difficulty breathing. |
Salbutamol / Bricanyl |
____ puffs |
4 hourly x 1 to 2 days |
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Reliever med:
________________
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____ puffs |
6 hourly x 2 to 3 days |
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*If child improves but requires 4-hourly reliever for more than 2 days, see your doctor for review
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Symbicort |
____ puffs |
3 to 4x / day for 2 to 3 days |
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RED ZONE: DANGER
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ASTHMA EMERGENCY CALL 995 FOR AN AMBULANCE |
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Symptoms
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Medicine |
How much |
How often |
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*Asthma is getting worse fast
*Feeling frightened
*Severe shortness of breath or breathing hard and fast
*Reliever medicine is not helping
*Can only speak in short sentences |
Salbutamol |
____ puffs |
Every 10 minutes, until the child gets to the nearest clinic or hospital. |
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Bricanyl |
____ puffs |
Every 10 minutes, until the child gets to the nearest clinic or hospital.
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Symbicort |
____ puffs |
Every 10 minutes, until the child gets to the nearest clinic or hospital.
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Reinforced by: Date:
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Disclaimer: All information contained herein is intended for your general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice for the treatment of asthma. If you have specific questions on medical care, please consult your doctor. |
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