Mild Attack
Mild Attack
*Mild difficulty in breathing.
*Breathing slightly faster than normal.
*Speaking in complete sentences is easily accomplished.
*Mild complaints of coughing, wheezing, tight chest, shortness of breath.
*Skin color is good.
*Child is alert and oriented.
*No compression in the muscles between the ribs.
*Peak flow rate is 70â90 percent of the childâs personal best.
Moderate Attack
*Moderate difficulty in breathing.
*Breathing faster than usual.
*Speaking is affected (no complete sentences because of breathing difficulty).
*Moderate complaints of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath.
*Skin color is normal to pale.
*Child is alert and oriented.
*Slight to moderate compression of the muscles between the ribs is necessary to breathe (often called âdrawing inâ).
*Peak flow rate is 50â70 percent of the child's personal best.
Severe Attack
*Breathing is extremely difficult.
*Breathing is very fast or very slow (labored).
*Single words are spoken with difficulty (difficulty in breathing).
*Severe complaints of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest.
*Skin color is poor.
*Child may be drowsy ââ alertness has diminished.
*Drawing in of neck abdomen and chest muscles to breathe.
*Peak flow rate is less than 50 percent of the childâs personal best.
Signs The Child Is Getting Worse
*Asthma symptoms occur more frequently.
*Asthma symptoms get worse in severity.
*Asthma medications do not seem to help lessen the coughing or breathing difficulty.
*Frequent trips to an emergency department (hospital or doctor).
*Admission to the hospital for asthma treatment.
*Large changes in peak flow rate (more than 20 percent) between morning and evening.
*Number of symptoms increases.
*Attacks longer in duration.
*Anti-inflammatory drugs are needed with increased frequency.
*Attacks escalate more rapidly.
*Panic attacks coupled with severe confusion with each asthma attack.