Asthma Action Plan

An asthma action plan (or management plan) is a written document that every parent of a child/adolescent with asthma should have with them. Asthma action plan is customized for every child with asthma. The aim of an asthma action plan is help caregivers to know how to manages his/her child’s asthma, prevent asthma attacks and emergency visits to hospital. Asthma action plan shows how to handle your child’s asthma when the child is doing well, when the child has increase in symptoms of asthma or when the child has an acute attack of asthma.

What are the parts of an Asthma Action Plan?
Asthma action plan has three parts or Zones: Green, Yellow and Red Zone as described below.

Asthma Action Plan Green Zone: green means GO ZONE! Keep taking your preventive medicines.
In the green zone of the asthma action plan the child has no symptoms like cough or wheezing, breathing is good, child is sleeping well through the night and can play/work.

Asthma Action Plan Yellow Zone: means caution zone! ADD quick relief medicines
In the yellow zone of the asthma action plan the child can have any of these symptoms like night cough, wheezing, chest tightness or exposure to known trigger.

The asthma action plan will tell you that if the child is having these symptoms then what quick relief medicine is to be taken and in what dose.

Asthma Action Plan Red Zone: means DANGER Zone! Get immediate help from a doctor
In the red zone of the asthma action plan the child has increased symptoms like breathing is hard and fast, trouble speaking and medicine is not working.

The asthma action plan will tell you that if the child is having these symptoms then what quick relief medicine is to be taken and in what dose. It is also advised to call your doctor immediately or reach an emergency. DO NOT WAIT.

Your pediatric pulmonologist will develop an Asthma Action Plan with you for your child!