Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust: Information for Families
Asthma
This information sheet from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) explains
the causes, symptoms and treatment of asthma and where to get help.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects the
small airways of the lungs (bronchi),
making them red, swollen and sensitive.
These sensitive or hyper-responsive
airways can react badly to certain
‘triggers’ such as catching a cold,
exercise, cigarette smoke, house dust
mites, pets and pollen.
Pharynx
Epiglottis
Larynx
Trachea
Coming into contact with one of these
triggers makes the muscles in the airways
become tight and the lining swollen,
causing the airways to become narrow.
Sticky mucus (phlegm) can also be
produced. This narrowing is reversible – in
between periods of contact with triggers,
the smooth muscle returns to normal.
Bronchus
Bronchiole
What causes asthma?
Alveolus
Smooth muscle
Airflow
unobstructed
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Smooth
muscle contracted
Airflow
obstructed
Mucus
plug
Asthma is a very common condition,
affecting about 1 in 11 children in
the UK according to the support
organisation Asthma UK. It can develop
at any age but is most common in
primary school age children.
Asthma seems to run in families so
there may be a genetic component to
developing it. It also seems linked to
‘atopic’ conditions, such as hay fever,
eczema and food allergies, so the
© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust February 2015
risk of developing asthma increases if
a child also has an atopic condition.
Other risk factors include prematurity
(being born too soon), low birthweight
and exposure to smoke.
What are the signs and
symptoms of asthma?
The main symptoms of asthma are:
„„Cough
„„Wheezing
„„Shortness of breath
„„Chest tightness
Symptoms are often ‘triggered’ by a
specific substance. Triggers vary from
person to person but can include catching
a cold, exercise, cigarette smoke, house
dust mites, pets and pollen. An ‘asthma
attack’ occurs when the symptoms
become more severe over a period of
hours or days, with medicines having less
effect. Asthma attacks may be severe
enough to need a stay in hospital.
How is asthma diagnosed?
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efficient the lungs are at breathing in
and out, which is helpful in diagnosing
asthma and its severity.
How is asthma treated?
There is no cure for asthma – treatment
aims to improve symptoms and prevent
future asthma attacks. Everyone with
asthma should be given an asthma
management plan that explains their
medicines and what to do when an
attack occurs.
Usually, people with asthma have two or
three types of medicines:
„„Relievers – salbutamol (Ventolin®)
or ipratropium (Atrovent®) – These
are blue or grey/green and should be
taken only when needed, that is, during
colds, when coughing, wheezing and
having difficulty breathing. They help
relax the airways.
„„Preventers – budesonide
(Pulmicort®) and beclomethosone
(Becotide®) – These are brown and
should be used every day, even when
your child is well. They are steroid
inhalers and work by controlling the
redness and swelling.
Asthma is often diagnosed by a family
doctor (GP) using simple breathing
tests, such as spirometry and peak flow
measurement. Spirometry measures
how fast a person can blow air out
through the airways – giving one
measurement called FEV1 or forced
expiratory volume in one second – the
volume of air breathed out in one
second – and another called FVC or
forced vital capacity – the total volume
of air breathed out. Peak flow measures
the maximum force of air breathed out
in one breath. These tests show how
It is important that the reliever and
preventer inhalers are used effectively
– watch our short video film on helping
your child to use an inhaler available at
www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-conditions/
medicines-information/how-to-help-your-
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© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust February 2015
„„Preventer granules - montelukast
(Singulair®) – This is in granule form
and can be mixed with a small amount
of food. It should be taken once a
day. It works by helping to control the
redness and swelling in the airways.
child-use-an-inhaler/video-how-to-helpyour-child-use-an-inhaler or on the GOSH
YouTube channel.
Younger children should use a spacer
device with their inhaler. A spacer device
is a plastic container with a mouthpiece
– the inhaler releases the medicine into
the spacer which the child then breathes
through the mouthpiece. Watch our
short video film to see how to use a
spacer device available at www.gosh.
nhs.uk/medical-conditions/medicinesinformation/how-to-help-your-child-usean-inhaler/video-how-to-help-your-childuse-an-inhaler-with-a-spacer-device/ or
on the GOSH YouTube channel.
Further information
and support
Asthma UK is the main support
organisation for people affected by
asthma. Call their advice line on
0800 121 62 44 or visit their website
at www.asthma.org.uk.
The British Lung Foundation supports
people affected by any form of lung
disease. Call their Breathe Easy helpline
on 03000 030 555 or visit their website
at www.blf.org.uk.
Notes
What happens next?
Asthma symptoms tend to come and
go throughout life – often they are
worse in childhood but improve during
adolescence. Avoiding triggers can
reduce the chance of asthma attacks
occurring as can using preventer
medicines regularly as instructed. Over
a period of time, asthma symptoms may
lead to permanent narrowing of the
bronchi, so regular monitoring of lung
function as explained above is important.
Compiled by the Critical Care and Cardiorespiratory team
in collaboration with the Child and Family Information Group
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street,
London WC1N 3JH
www.gosh.nhs.uk
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© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust February 2015