Chloe Buckley
Unit 14
Someone who is diagnosed with ‘severe asthma’ has the type of asthma where symptoms
do not get better even when they take usual asthma medicines as prescribed and correctly,
and where other causes and triggers for symptoms have been ruled out as much as possible.
It’s a specific type of asthma that needs specialist assessment and very different support
and treatments. Children with asthma need lots of help from the adults around them. Some
people with severe asthma can be very unwell at times and need a part-time or even full-
time career because they can’t do certain things for themselves. Maybe they’ve been unwell
because it’s taking time to find the right medicines to get symptoms under control. Or
perhaps they have another long-term condition or disability as well as severe asthma.
Leo will have to have regular check-ups at the doctors every 6-12 months depending on how
bad his symptoms are and so the doctors can decide what medicine is best for him. Your GP
may prescribe several different medicines for your asthma. You may need to use stronger
medicines when your symptoms get worse and milder ones when your symptoms get
better. Your GP or nurse will create a personalised asthma plan for you. Your asthma plan
will include how and when you should use your asthma medicines. Your GP or nurse should
review your asthma plan regularly to make sure it’s right for you.
Asthma medicines are usually given by an inhaler. There are many types of inhalers and
these all work slightly differently. Metered-dose inhalers come in the form of a pressurised
can. Some people, especially older people and children, find these difficult to use. Your GP
may prescribe a dry powder inhaler or a breath-activated inhaler instead. You’ll need to use
your inhaler correctly to make sure it works properly. His GP, nurse or pharmacist can show
him and his parents how to use it.
If his asthma symptoms are flaring up, he can use a short-acting reliever called a
bronchodilator. A reliever quickly eases your asthma symptoms by helping to relax and
widen your airways. It contains medicines such as salbutamol (e.g. Ventolin) and terbutaline
(e.g. Bricanyl). If he needs to use his reliever more than twice a week, or your asthma is
worse at night, he should contact your GP surgery. His asthma nurse or GP may then suggest
that he should use a preventer medication. If he is already using preventer medication, this
may need to be adjusted.
If he’s prescribed a preventer inhaler, he should use it every day, even if he doesn’t have
asthma symptoms. The protective effect builds up over time. Preventers usually contain a
corticosteroid medicine, such as beclomethasone (e.g. Qvar) or fluticasone (e.g. Flexitime).
These work by reducing the inflammation of your airways. It can take up to seven days for
Unit 14
Someone who is diagnosed with ‘severe asthma’ has the type of asthma where symptoms
do not get better even when they take usual asthma medicines as prescribed and correctly,
and where other causes and triggers for symptoms have been ruled out as much as possible.
It’s a specific type of asthma that needs specialist assessment and very different support
and treatments. Children with asthma need lots of help from the adults around them. Some
people with severe asthma can be very unwell at times and need a part-time or even full-
time career because they can’t do certain things for themselves. Maybe they’ve been unwell
because it’s taking time to find the right medicines to get symptoms under control. Or
perhaps they have another long-term condition or disability as well as severe asthma.
Leo will have to have regular check-ups at the doctors every 6-12 months depending on how
bad his symptoms are and so the doctors can decide what medicine is best for him. Your GP
may prescribe several different medicines for your asthma. You may need to use stronger
medicines when your symptoms get worse and milder ones when your symptoms get
better. Your GP or nurse will create a personalised asthma plan for you. Your asthma plan
will include how and when you should use your asthma medicines. Your GP or nurse should
review your asthma plan regularly to make sure it’s right for you.
Asthma medicines are usually given by an inhaler. There are many types of inhalers and
these all work slightly differently. Metered-dose inhalers come in the form of a pressurised
can. Some people, especially older people and children, find these difficult to use. Your GP
may prescribe a dry powder inhaler or a breath-activated inhaler instead. You’ll need to use
your inhaler correctly to make sure it works properly. His GP, nurse or pharmacist can show
him and his parents how to use it.
If his asthma symptoms are flaring up, he can use a short-acting reliever called a
bronchodilator. A reliever quickly eases your asthma symptoms by helping to relax and
widen your airways. It contains medicines such as salbutamol (e.g. Ventolin) and terbutaline
(e.g. Bricanyl). If he needs to use his reliever more than twice a week, or your asthma is
worse at night, he should contact your GP surgery. His asthma nurse or GP may then suggest
that he should use a preventer medication. If he is already using preventer medication, this
may need to be adjusted.
If he’s prescribed a preventer inhaler, he should use it every day, even if he doesn’t have
asthma symptoms. The protective effect builds up over time. Preventers usually contain a
corticosteroid medicine, such as beclomethasone (e.g. Qvar) or fluticasone (e.g. Flexitime).
These work by reducing the inflammation of your airways. It can take up to seven days for
