As allergy season ramps up and kids head into a more active summer routine, many families notice asthma symptoms show up more often or get harder to control. The good news: asthma is controllable, and preparation before triggers peak can help prevent attacks, reduce urgent visits, and keep kids doing what they love all summer long.
Why this matters for Indiana families
- In 2023, there were almost 100,000 children in Indiana living with asthma, or about 7%.
- Only about half of children with asthma have been given an asthma action plan.
- In 2022, over half of children under the age of 18 who had asthma reported having one or more asthma attacks in the past year.
- In 2020, 42 out of 100 children with asthma aged 0-4 years went to the emergency department for asthma, and 6 out of 100 children with asthma aged 0-4 years were hospitalized.
Why summer can bring more asthma flare-ups
Summer often combines several asthma “stressors” at once: more time outdoors, more vigorous activity, and more exposure to pollen and air irritants. Hot days can also worsen air quality, which may trigger asthma symptoms and attacks, so it helps to build a simple plan for sports, camps, travel, and heat waves before they happen.
Our Pediatrician, Dr. Rita Patel says, “As summer approaches, I often see an increase in asthma attacks as the weather changes and children become more active. Having an asthma action plan and the right treatments in place can help prevent attacks and reduce the need for emergency department visits.”
A practical summer asthma checklist for parents and caregivers
- Confirm an asthma action plan is up to date. Review your child’s daily medicines and their quick-relief plan, and make sure the instructions are easy to follow.
- Share the plan with the adults who supervise your child. Provide copies to schools, camps, coaches, babysitters, and family members.
- Check inhaler/spacer supplies and technique. Make sure prescriptions are current, devices are not expired, and you know how to use them correctly.
- Plan ahead for sports and outdoor play. If exercise is a trigger, ask your child’s clinician what to do before activity and what symptoms mean it’s time to pause and use quick-relief medicine.
- Watch the forecast beyond temperature. On very hot days, and on days when air quality is poor, consider moving vigorous activity indoors or to cooler parts of the day.
- Reduce exposure to known triggers at home. If pollen, dust mites, or smoke are triggers, focus on practical steps that lower exposure where your child sleeps and plays.
Dr. Patel adds, “Anyone with asthma should have an action plan in place so they can get prompt care during an emergency. This is especially important for children, who are often in the care of teachers, coaches, or other adults. An asthma action plan is created with your primary care provider and tailored to your child’s specific needs.”
How we can help
Dr. Patel concludes, “Preparing for asthma before triggers increase can make a meaningful difference for families. When parents, caregivers, and schools all understand a child’s asthma action plan, children can stay healthier, more active, and out of the hospital.”
If your child has asthma, or you suspect they might, an office visit is a great time to review symptoms, triggers, medications, and inhaler technique, and to create (or update) an asthma action plan you can share with school and summer programs. Planning now can help your family feel more confident heading into the hottest, most active months of the year.
Dr. Rita Patel is a pediatrician who has over 30 years of experience. She obtained her MD from Harvard Medical School, and she currently practices at the Shadeland site of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center.
