While there is no cure for asthma, symptoms can be successfully managed by medication. This medicine can be categorized into two main groups. The first is comprised of short-acting beta agonists or bronchodilators like Salbutamol and Ventolin. These drugs, which Dr. Virant refers to as “rescue medication,” react quickly to open the airways. “This would be used, for example, for a child who has exercise issues, ideally 10 to 15 minutes before they exercise,” he says. These drugs would also be used for kids who get respiratory infections. The other group of asthma medication consists of long-term cortocosteroids like Prelone and Pediapred, which help reduce symptoms over time. They’re used on a regular basis to help prevent attacks.

Another popular medication that’s commonly used to treat asthma is Singulair. “It’s a non-steroid controller medicine that would be the lowest level of routine medicine to help block the problem,” says Dr. Virant. Essentially, it helps to stop attacks before they begin, and reduces allergy symptoms.

Because these medications can be difficult for children to take, some are given in liquid form or with a nebulizer (a small device that turns medicine into a mist that the baby can breathe in through a face mask). Older children can use an aerochamber (a tube with a hole in one end for the inhaler and a mask at the other), which traps medicine inside to be breathed in at the child’s pace. Make sure that your child’s teachers and caregivers are aware of asthma attack symptoms, what action to take and how to administer medication if necessary. Print off our Asthma Safety sheet and fill it out.

As with many illnesses, medication isn’t the only or necessarily most effective course of treatment for asthma. In fact, one of the best ways to treat this disease is to prevent an attack. “The more allergies you have that affect your nose, the more likely it is that you’ll develop asthma,” says Dr. Virant. So it’s essential to limit all allergy triggers, especially dust, mold, feathers and pet dander in your child’s environment. Vacuum at least once a week, wash sheets and pillows weekly, remove carpeting, use special dust mite covers, keep pets out of the bedroom and don’t smoke around your kids. Check out our allergy guide for more tips on reducing allergens.