Asthma and wheeze: advice for when you leave hospital

Your child should now be feeling better. Your child should not need the blue reliever inhaler as often. Before going home, your child will need to be able to manage 4 hours between doses of the blue reliever inhaler.

What to do after an attack – going home plan

Take Salbutamol, the blue reliever inhaler, 4-10 puffs as needed to treat symptoms for the first 48 hours including: wheeze, chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. This may need to be every 4 hours at first but should reduce as your child improves. The effects of the blue reliever inhaler should last for four hours.
If you need to give the blue reliever inhaler more than every four hours, your child is having an acute exacerbation of asthma or wheeze. Seek urgent help via 111 or 999 and follow their asthma plan if they have one.
If this is within 48 hours of discharge use your temporary open-door access to the children’s emergency department.
If you still need to give the reliever inhaler (blue) regularly 48 hours after discharge or are unable to reduce the number of puffs, your child has not fully recovered. Arrange a medical review with your GP or asthma nurse within 24 hours.
Your child should have a post admission review with your GP or asthma nurse within two working days of discharge from hospital. This is to make sure that your child is improving. Please contact your GP surgery to arrange this.
Your child should also have a follow up appointment with your GP or asthma nurse within the next 4 weeks. Please contact your GP surgery to arrange this.

Spacer devices

Always use the inhalers with a spacer device. This is a better way of getting the medicine into the lungs. A nurse will check your child’s technique before discharge.

A child over three years old should aim to use a spacer without a mask, unless they are unable to manage the correct technique. See www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/inhaler-videos for correct techniques.

Reliever or blue inhaler (Salbutamol/Salamol/Ventolin):

Inhale 2-10 puffs as needed.

The blue inhaler is for the relief of cough, wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness. You should not need to use this regularly when your asthma or wheeze is well controlled.

Preventer inhaler (E.g., brown, beige, purple or white):

You will be told how many puffs your child should inhale in the morning and in the evening. This inhaler prevents the lungs from becoming inflamed. Do not stop/change the dose unless told to by your doctor or asthma nurse.