Understanding and Managing Respiratory Illnesses in Families

What breathing problems do children often get?

How do I know if my child is sick with a breathing problem?

It's important to look for signs that your child might have a problem with their breathing. Here are some simple steps to help:

• Does your child have a cough that doesn't stop?
• Is your child breathing faster than normal?
• Is your child making a whistling sound when they breathe?
• Does your child have a runny or stuffy nose?
• Is your child saying they have a sore throat?
• Is your child feeling tired more than usual?

If you think your child has any of these signs, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Here are things you can do to help your child:

• Make sure your child drinks plenty of water.
• Keep your child warm and comfortable.
• Use a humidifier to make the air less dry.
• Let your child rest a lot.

Remember, you know your child best. If you are worried, it’s okay to ask for help.

When should I get a doctor for my child's breathing sickness?

If your child is sick and having trouble breathing, you should call a doctor. Look for these things:

• Your child is breathing very fast or using extra muscles to breathe.
• Your child is making noises when breathing, like wheezing or grunting.
• Your child’s lips or face look blue or very pale.
• Your child is very sleepy or hard to wake up.
• Your child has a fever that won’t go away.

If you see any of these signs, call a doctor or go to the hospital right away. It is important to help your child feel better.

Some things that can help your child breathe easier:

• Make sure your child drinks a lot of water.
• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist.
• Help your child sit up or raise their head when sleeping.

If you are worried or unsure, it is always okay to ask a doctor for help.

How can families stop getting sick with breathing problems?

Families can do some simple things to stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Keep your home clean and tidy.
• Open windows to let fresh air in.
• Get everyone in the family vaccinated.
• Stay away from people who are sick.
• Eat healthy food and drink lots of water.

Drawing pictures or making a chart can help remember these tips. You can also use apps or reminder notes to check if everyone is following the steps.

How can you help a child with asthma?

Here are some simple ways to help a child who has asthma:

• Visit the doctor to get the right medicine.
• Use the inhaler as the doctor says.
• Stay away from things that make asthma worse, like smoke or pollen.
• Make sure the child can breathe okay by using a peak flow meter. This is a tool that shows how well their lungs are working.
• Learn the signs that an asthma attack might be coming, like coughing or feeling tight in the chest.
• Have a plan for what to do if the child has an asthma attack.

If it's hard to read, ask a grown-up or teacher to help. There are also apps and tools that can read text out loud, which can be very helpful.

Can my child go to school if they have a cough or cold?

What medicines from the shop can help if your breathing is bad?

Do you have a cough or stuffy nose? You can buy medicines at the shop that might help. They are called over-the-counter medicines. This means you don't need a doctor to give you a prescription.

Here are some medicines that can help:

• Cough syrup - Helps stop coughing.
• Nasal spray - Makes it easier to breathe if your nose is blocked.
• Decongestant tablets - Helps clear a stuffy nose.

It's important to read the instructions on the box. If you are not sure, ask someone for help. You can also use picture charts or read aloud tools to understand better.

What can I do if my child keeps coughing?

If your child won't stop coughing, here are some steps you can take:

• Make sure your child drinks lots of water. This can help clear their throat.
• If the cough doesn’t go away, it's a good idea to see a doctor.
• You can also try a warm bath. The steam might help your child feel better.
• Keep your child away from smoke or other things that might irritate their throat.

If you find it hard to remember these steps, you could write them down or ask someone to help you.

How can I make the air inside better for people with breathing problems?

• Keep windows open when you can to let fresh air in.
• Use air purifiers to clean the air inside.
• Don't smoke inside the house.
• Keep the house clean to get rid of dust.
• Use fans in the kitchen and bathroom to blow smells and steam away.
• Choose safe cleaning products that don’t have strong smells.
• Try putting plants inside to help clean the air.

Can nature help breathe better when sick?

How long does it take to get better from a lung infection?

When you get a lung infection, you might feel sick. It usually takes about 1 to 3 weeks to feel better.

The time can be different for everyone. Here are some tips to help you get better:

• Rest a lot and sleep well.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat healthy food.
• Follow the doctor’s advice.
• Take medicine if the doctor gives you any.

If it takes longer than 3 weeks, or if you feel worse, tell a doctor!

Can a humidifier help with breathing problems?

A humidifier puts moisture (water) into the air. Breathing in moist air can sometimes help make it easier to breathe. This can be helpful if you have a cold, cough, or if the air is very dry.

If you have breathing problems, you can try using a humidifier in your home to see if it helps. Make sure to keep the humidifier clean to stop germs from growing in it.

Ask an adult if you need help with the humidifier. You can also talk to a doctor or nurse for more advice.

How can changing what you eat help you breathe better?

Eating the right foods can help your lungs stay strong. This can make it easier for you to breathe. Try eating more fruits and vegetables. They are good for your body and can help your lungs.

Drink enough water every day. Water helps keep your lungs clean and healthy.

Avoid foods that are bad for your lungs, like junk food or things with a lot of sugar.

Do you need help? You can ask a doctor or a dietitian. They know about healthy foods.

What to Do if Your Child Can't Breathe Well

How do vaccines stop you from getting sick in your lungs?

Vaccines are like a shield for your body. They keep you from getting really sick. Some germs can make your breathing hard. These germs get in your lungs. Vaccines teach your body to fight these germs.

Getting a vaccine is easy. You might feel a small pinch. But it helps you stay healthy. Vaccines are strong helpers. They work to keep you well.

Here's a tip: Talk with a doctor or nurse. They can tell you more about vaccines.

Try some tools: Watch videos with pictures about vaccines. Or, use apps that read text aloud for you. These can help you learn better.

What breathing problems do children often get?

How do I know if my child is sick with a breathing problem?

It's important to look for signs that your child might have a problem with their breathing. Here are some simple steps to help:

• Does your child have a cough that doesn't stop?
• Is your child breathing faster than normal?
• Is your child making a whistling sound when they breathe?
• Does your child have a runny or stuffy nose?
• Is your child saying they have a sore throat?
• Is your child feeling tired more than usual?

If you think your child has any of these signs, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Here are things you can do to help your child:

• Make sure your child drinks plenty of water.
• Keep your child warm and comfortable.
• Use a humidifier to make the air less dry.
• Let your child rest a lot.

Remember, you know your child best. If you are worried, it’s okay to ask for help.

When should I get a doctor for my child's breathing sickness?

If your child is sick and having trouble breathing, you should call a doctor. Look for these things:

• Your child is breathing very fast or using extra muscles to breathe.
• Your child is making noises when breathing, like wheezing or grunting.
• Your child’s lips or face look blue or very pale.
• Your child is very sleepy or hard to wake up.
• Your child has a fever that won’t go away.

If you see any of these signs, call a doctor or go to the hospital right away. It is important to help your child feel better.

Some things that can help your child breathe easier:

• Make sure your child drinks a lot of water.
• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist.
• Help your child sit up or raise their head when sleeping.

If you are worried or unsure, it is always okay to ask a doctor for help.

How can families stop getting sick with breathing problems?

Families can do some simple things to stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Keep your home clean and tidy.
• Open windows to let fresh air in.
• Get everyone in the family vaccinated.
• Stay away from people who are sick.
• Eat healthy food and drink lots of water.

Drawing pictures or making a chart can help remember these tips. You can also use apps or reminder notes to check if everyone is following the steps.

How can you help a child with asthma?

Here are some simple ways to help a child who has asthma:

• Visit the doctor to get the right medicine.
• Use the inhaler as the doctor says.
• Stay away from things that make asthma worse, like smoke or pollen.
• Make sure the child can breathe okay by using a peak flow meter. This is a tool that shows how well their lungs are working.
• Learn the signs that an asthma attack might be coming, like coughing or feeling tight in the chest.
• Have a plan for what to do if the child has an asthma attack.

If it's hard to read, ask a grown-up or teacher to help. There are also apps and tools that can read text out loud, which can be very helpful.

Can my child go to school if they have a cough or cold?

What medicines from the shop can help if your breathing is bad?

Do you have a cough or stuffy nose? You can buy medicines at the shop that might help. They are called over-the-counter medicines. This means you don't need a doctor to give you a prescription.

Here are some medicines that can help:

• Cough syrup - Helps stop coughing.
• Nasal spray - Makes it easier to breathe if your nose is blocked.
• Decongestant tablets - Helps clear a stuffy nose.

It's important to read the instructions on the box. If you are not sure, ask someone for help. You can also use picture charts or read aloud tools to understand better.

What can I do if my child keeps coughing?

If your child won't stop coughing, here are some steps you can take:

• Make sure your child drinks lots of water. This can help clear their throat.
• If the cough doesn’t go away, it's a good idea to see a doctor.
• You can also try a warm bath. The steam might help your child feel better.
• Keep your child away from smoke or other things that might irritate their throat.

If you find it hard to remember these steps, you could write them down or ask someone to help you.

How can I make the air inside better for people with breathing problems?

• Keep windows open when you can to let fresh air in.
• Use air purifiers to clean the air inside.
• Don't smoke inside the house.
• Keep the house clean to get rid of dust.
• Use fans in the kitchen and bathroom to blow smells and steam away.
• Choose safe cleaning products that don’t have strong smells.
• Try putting plants inside to help clean the air.

Can nature help breathe better when sick?

How long does it take to get better from a lung infection?

When you get a lung infection, you might feel sick. It usually takes about 1 to 3 weeks to feel better.

The time can be different for everyone. Here are some tips to help you get better:

• Rest a lot and sleep well.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat healthy food.
• Follow the doctor’s advice.
• Take medicine if the doctor gives you any.

If it takes longer than 3 weeks, or if you feel worse, tell a doctor!

Can a humidifier help with breathing problems?

A humidifier puts moisture (water) into the air. Breathing in moist air can sometimes help make it easier to breathe. This can be helpful if you have a cold, cough, or if the air is very dry.

If you have breathing problems, you can try using a humidifier in your home to see if it helps. Make sure to keep the humidifier clean to stop germs from growing in it.

Ask an adult if you need help with the humidifier. You can also talk to a doctor or nurse for more advice.

How can changing what you eat help you breathe better?

Eating the right foods can help your lungs stay strong. This can make it easier for you to breathe. Try eating more fruits and vegetables. They are good for your body and can help your lungs.

Drink enough water every day. Water helps keep your lungs clean and healthy.

Avoid foods that are bad for your lungs, like junk food or things with a lot of sugar.

Do you need help? You can ask a doctor or a dietitian. They know about healthy foods.

What to Do if Your Child Can't Breathe Well

How do vaccines stop you from getting sick in your lungs?

Vaccines are like a shield for your body. They keep you from getting really sick. Some germs can make your breathing hard. These germs get in your lungs. Vaccines teach your body to fight these germs.

Getting a vaccine is easy. You might feel a small pinch. But it helps you stay healthy. Vaccines are strong helpers. They work to keep you well.

Here's a tip: Talk with a doctor or nurse. They can tell you more about vaccines.

Try some tools: Watch videos with pictures about vaccines. Or, use apps that read text aloud for you. These can help you learn better.