Parents of young children have been advised not to wait too long before going to see a doctor about any perceived
asthmatic symptoms.
A study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has found that parents are missing early opportunities in which they could intervene and prevent an emergency situation arising.
The study also found that parents were often unsure of how to use the inhaler treatments they were given for their child's asthma.
As one of the most common childhood diseases, the researchers have highlighted the importance of taking action on asthma.
Professor Jane Garbutt, a specialist in paediatrics and medicine, commented on the study: "But even though they [the parents] noticed the signs [of asthma] consistently, they often didn't do anything about it. If parents had known to give albuterol earlier, they may have been able to manage things at home and avoid a trip to the emergency room."
