What Happens If We Treat Our Child's Symptoms Only When Needed?

— -- Question: What happens if we treat our child's symptoms only when needed?

Answer: Poorly controlled and undertreated asthma can lead to poor quality of life now and potentially in the future. Children with undertreated asthma are more likely to have exacerbations that can lead to emergency room visits, hospitalizations and missed school days.

These children are more likely to have symptoms with exercise and sports and they may self limit their activity due to symptoms. Undertreated asthma could also lead to loss of lung function that can progress and, in some cases, can lead to irreversible changes in the airway. Many children can control their asthma with the use of only once or at the most twice a day controller medication.

Next: My Child Is On A Lot Of Medicines But Is Still Having Asthma Problems. Why?

Previous: How Can My Child Contend With The Stigma Associated With Having Asthma?