Monitor allergic children proactively for asthma symptoms

What to Do

Watch for asthma warning signs in allergic children: increased coughing (especially at night or with exercise), wheezing, difficulty keeping up with peers during physical activity, and increased rescue inhaler use during allergy season.

Why It Works

Children with allergic rhinitis have a 3-5x higher risk of developing asthma. During pollen season, an allergic child's asthma may worsen even if it is well-controlled at other times. Early detection and treatment prevent airway remodeling and long-term lung function decline.

Tips

• The child's asthma action plan should address seasonal escalation of controller medications
• Ensure the school has an updated asthma action plan and emergency medications
• A combined allergy-asthma approach is more effective than treating each condition separately
• Night cough is often the earliest sign of allergic asthma in children