Asthma medication and inhalers

If your child has asthma and you’re looking for more general information on the condition, see the Asthma factsheet. 

If your child has asthma, they will likely need asthma medication to manage symptoms or asthma attacks. 

  • If you do not have medication to treat your child’s asthma, visit your doctor and ask for an Asthma Management Plan.
  • An Asthma Management Plan will help understand when to use asthma medication and how much to use.
  • It is important to use the devices properly and with the right technique to get the most relief from symptoms.  

Your child’s doctor will step you through the process of using asthma medication. There are two types of asthma medication in the form of relievers and preventers: 

Relievers

Relievers are used when required to alleviate certain symptoms. They work and act fast by opening and relaxing the airways, also known as bronchodilators. This can take effect from a few minutes and up to 4 hours. They are usually blue or grey in colour and children with asthma should always carry their reliever device and use it only when it is required.

Preventers

Preventers are used to control symptoms and prevent acute asthma attacks from happening. They are a corticosteroid that help to reduce the airways becoming inflamed. These inhaler devices are usually orange or yellow in colour and help children with exercise-induced asthma or asthma as an allergy. 

For more severe asthma episodes, oral corticosteroids in the form of a tablet or liquid medication may be advised by your doctor. These medications are only utilised in more serious cases and can take up to 4 hours to relieve symptoms. 

Using an asthma inhaler

Most asthma medication will be in the form of an inhaler (puffer) which will be taken orally. 

A spacer is a device that attaches to your child's asthma medication. It acts as a holding chamber to make the medication easier to breathe in. It is highly recommended that spacers be used by all children who require a puffer, as this will allow the full dose of asthma medication to reach your child’s airways. 

It is important to always follow your child's asthma action plan. If there are no improvements, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance. Keep giving 4 separate puffs, every 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives.