Good Healthy Advice

Paracetamol safe to give to children

Sourced: Asthma Foundation NSW

Recent media reports have suggested an association between the use of paracetamol in the first year of a child’s life and an increased risk of them developing childhood asthma, hay fever and eczema at age 6-7 years.

Further randomized controlled research is required to determine whether paracetamol actually contributes to asthma in childhood.

Asthma Foundation NSW advises that it is still safe to use paracetamol for pain relief and fever in children, and that paracetamol is the best medication to use in this situation.

10 things to ask your Doctor about asthma

Sourced: Asthma Foundation NSW

Never be afraid of asking your doctor lots of questions. It’s the best way to learn about managing your or your child’s asthma.

Asthma Questions

1. How severe is my/my child’s asthma?
2. How do I recognise a severe asthma attack and what do I do if this happens?
3. What medications do I/my child need to take for asthma? Ask your doctor about the dosage (how many puffs) and how often it should be given
4. What is the difference between reliever, preventer, symptom controller or combination medications used to treat asthma?
5. How should I give the medication to myself or my child?
6. Ask your doctor to show you how to use the medication delivery device and to check if you/your child are using it correctly
7. Can I have a written Asthma Action Plan that tells me how to recognise worsening asthma, what to do if this happens and how to get help quickly? Also ask your doctor to explain the written asthma action plan
8. What things might trigger my/my child’s asthma?
9. If exercise triggers you/your child’s asthma, ask your doctor how to prevent and manage exercise-induced asthma
10. When do I need to come back to have my/my child’s asthma reviewed?

Information to give your doctor

Asthma Winter Warning – The Return of the Silent Killer

Article By Asthma Foundation

The death rate amongst the two million Australians who live with asthma rose for the first time in a decade from 314 in 2005 to 402 in 2006. Most of the rise was accounted for by older people.

It’s a worrying statistic at any time, but more so with winter just around the corner. Winter is when the vast majority of asthma deaths occur, mostly in older people.

‘Although the death rate is no where near the 1000 mark we saw during the late 80’s and early 90’s, we need to take steps to ensure the numbers don’t creep up any further and that we reinforce the message reflected by these figures that asthma is a serious  disease and that you can die from it,’ said Greg Smith, CEO of Asthma Foundation NSW.