Breathing symptoms
Symptoms to track
- Wheezing, chest tightness, or noisy breathing
- Frequent cough, especially at night or after activity
- Shortness of breath during play, sports, or normal routines
Pediatric Respiratory Care
Childhood Asthma Care
Childhood asthma care helps families understand breathing symptoms, triggers, inhaler questions, school needs, and warning signs. All American Community Health Center serves children and families in Pomona and nearby communities.
Asthma support for children and families
A pediatric asthma visit can help families review symptoms, triggers, inhaler technique, school needs, and what to do when breathing symptoms change. The goal is practical guidance, not guessing at home.
What a visit may cover
- Cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, nighttime symptoms, and activity limits.
- Possible triggers such as colds, allergies, smoke, air quality, exercise, weather changes, pets, or dust.
- Current medications, rescue inhaler questions, spacer technique, refills, and side effects.
- School forms, sports questions, and when a child should rest or be seen urgently.
- When follow-up, testing, referrals, or an asthma action plan discussion may be needed.
Bring key information
Bring your child’s medications, inhalers, spacer, allergy list, recent urgent care or ER paperwork, school forms, and notes about symptoms, triggers, and how often rescue medicine is used.
Emergency breathing warning signs
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if your child has severe trouble breathing, blue lips or face, ribs pulling in, confusion, extreme sleepiness, inability to speak or drink normally, or symptoms not improving after rescue medication as directed by a clinician.
Helpful links
Related pages: Childhood Asthma, Asthma Care, When to Call the Pediatrician, Contact, and FAQs.
This page is educational and does not diagnose your child or replace medical advice from a licensed clinician.
How to Prepare for a Pediatric Asthma Visit
-
Call or request an appointment
Tell us your child’s age, symptoms, and whether breathing symptoms are new, worsening, or affecting sleep, school, or play.
-
Bring inhalers and records
Bring current medications, inhalers, spacer, allergy list, school forms, and recent urgent care or emergency room paperwork.
-
Verify coverage
If you plan to use insurance, Medi-Cal, Medicare, a commercial plan, or self-pay, call first so the team can help verify current coverage details.
-
Know emergency signs
For severe trouble breathing, blue lips, ribs pulling in, confusion, extreme sleepiness, or symptoms not improving with rescue medication as directed, call 911.
Childhood Asthma Care Checklist
Ask for guidance if symptoms affect sleep, school, play, sports, or daily routines.
Triggers
Common patterns
- Colds, allergies, smoke, pets, dust, or air quality
- Exercise, weather changes, or strong smells
- Symptoms that flare at school, outside, or at night
Daily impact
Child routines
- Night waking or tiredness from breathing symptoms
- Missed school, nurse visits, or urgent care visits
- Avoiding sports, recess, or play because of symptoms
Emergency signs
Call 911
- Blue lips or face, severe trouble breathing, or ribs pulling in
- Confusion, extreme sleepiness, or trouble speaking
- Symptoms not improving after rescue medication as directed
Childhood Asthma Care FAQs
Common questions about symptoms, triggers, inhalers, school planning, coverage, and emergency warning signs.
Call if coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, nighttime symptoms, or activity limits are new, worsening, or interfering with sleep, school, or play.
Bring current medications, inhalers, spacer, allergy list, recent urgent care or ER paperwork, school forms, and notes about symptoms, triggers, and rescue medicine use.
Bring any school, sports, camp, or medication forms to the visit. The care team can review what information is needed and whether follow-up is required.
Families should call before scheduling to verify current insurance or Medi-Cal coverage. Coverage, copays, eligibility, and benefits can change.
No. This page is educational. A licensed clinician needs to review your child’s symptoms, history, exam, and any needed testing before discussing diagnosis or treatment options.
Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, blue lips or face, ribs pulling in, confusion, extreme sleepiness, trouble speaking, or symptoms not improving after rescue medication as directed by a clinician.
Related Pediatric and Respiratory Services
