Childhood asthma is a disease that affects many children throughout the world. It is characterized by severe coughing, difficulty with breathing, as well as other respiratory problems. Many things can trigger an asthma attack, including allergies, weather conditions, exercise, and illness. The most important thing a parent of an asthmatic child can do is to determine what triggers the child’s asthma. This helps both the child and the parent better control the disorder. An asthma attack is a scary thing to witness, particularly for a parent. When a child is having a full-blown asthma attack, he or she can hardly breath because the lungs are closing up. It is imperative to get asthma medication to this child as soon as possible. However, many children have asthma and can benefit from asthma treatment even when they have never had a full-blown asthma attack. If your child has difficulty breathing in the presence of any common factor, including allergies and exercise, you should them checked to see if they have asthma. The most commonly thought of asthma medication is the asthma inhaler. This is a device that delivers a burst of mist with the medication inside into the child’s lungs via the mouth. The asthma medication inside an inhaler is called a bronchodilator. It works to dilate the bronchial tubes in the lungs to let the air in. Most of these asthma medication options are available in pill or syrup form, as well as through an asthma inhaler. While they do not cure asthma, these types of asthma medications give the child quick relief when having an attack. The way to prevent childhood asthma is to avoid the items that trigger your child’s asthma whenever possible. Children's allergies and asthma can be triggered by dust, mites, cat dander, and many other things. There are also asthma medications, generally steroids, that a child can take to help prevent asthma. Those who rely on their asthma inhaler in order to go about their daily lives almost every day could benefit from preventative asthma medication options. The best way to deal with your child’s asthma is to work with a pediatrician to develop a treatment plan. Your child’s pediatrician will help determine the severity of your child’s asthma. Once the severity is determined, the doctor can prescribe asthma medications, asthma inhalers, and other treatment options that will best help your child. With the right asthma treatments, a child who suffers from asthma-related respiratory problems can have a normal, happy childhood.