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ACAAI warns parents of children with asthma regarding enterovirus D68
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The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has warned parents of children with asthma and allergies to be aware of their child’s symptoms regarding enterovirus D68.
“If your child seems to be struggling to breathe and their normal asthma medications aren’t working, get him or her to the emergency department as soon as possible,” allergist Bradley Chipps, MD, a spokesman for the ACAAI, said in a press release. “The most important thing is for every child with asthma to have a personalized action plan, created with his or her allergist, [which] helps quickly identify when a child … needs immediate, emergency attention.”
Although enterovirus D68 symptoms first appear as a common cold, they can quickly move to more severe respiratory symptoms including wheezing and difficulty breathing, the release said.
Other tips from the ACAAI include:
- If recommended by an allergist, ensure the peak flow meter and diary to gauge a child’s asthma level are being used properly.
- Make sure the child is following an action plan. Under the “stoplight system,” if a child is in the red zone and is experiencing severe asthma symptoms or an asthma flare-up, the patient should receive prompt medical attention.