9 common asthma triggers for children

Getting to know your child's asthma triggers can have a big payoff: more days that your child feels good and breathes easier.

Asthma triggers can be different from child to child. But getting to know your child's specific triggers better can help you:

• Minimize asthma exacerbations (when asthma gets worse)

• Plan your day and outings better

• Know when your child needs to take their rescue or reliever medicine

• Know when your child may need to pre-treat (Pre-treating is when your child takes rescue or reliever medicine before coming into contact with a trigger)

"You never quite know when an asthma exacerbation is going to come. But knowing your child's triggers can help make exacerbations more predictable – or even prevent them," says Folashade Afolabi, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonologist at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Afolabi shares the most common asthma triggers and tips to help avoid them.

Asthma trigger #1: Being sick

Many types of illnesses can make a child's asthma worse. These include colds, flus, sinus infections, respiratory infections like RSV, viral infections and ear infections.

You can keep your child healthy by making sure they:

• Practice good hand washing

• Use hand sanitizer when they can't get to a sink

• Avoid touching their face, nose and mouth when people around them are sick

• Wear a mask when they're around people who are sick

• Get a yearly flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 shot

What to do if your child with asthma gets sick

When a child with asthma gets sick and is coughing a lot, give them their reliever medication. If they are over 1 year old, you can also give them a spoonful of honey (either straight or mixed with lemon and water).

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not recommended because they don't work that well and have ingredients that are not always safe for children.

Asthma trigger #2: Smoke

One of the most common asthma triggers in children is smoke. This includes smoke from:

• Cigarettes, cigars or vapes

• Campfires

• Barbeques

• Wood burning fireplaces

• Wildfires

Living with a smoker

If someone in your home smokes or vapes, ask them to:

• Smoke outside and away from your child

• Wash their hands after smoking

• Not to smoke in the car (cars hold onto smoke for a long time)

Being around a campfire, barbeque or wood-burning stove

In general, it's not safe for any young child to be near a hot barbeque or hot stove. But if your child is going to be around a campfire or cookout, make sure they pre-treat and stay upwind of the smoke.

Living with wildfire smoke

If there's wildfire smoke in your area, have your child stay indoors as much as possible – in a home with an air filtration system. A central A/C unit has a built-in air filtration system, so you don't have to buy an expensive HEPA filter.

"Running central A/C really helps filter the air in your home. But you don't have to run it all the time or keep your home super cold," says Dr. Afolabi.

Asthma trigger #3: Irritants

Irritants with strong smells, scents or chemicals can include:

• Perfumes

• Candles

• Plug-in air fresheners

• Deodorizers

• Diffusers

• Detergents

• Cleaning products

How to avoid irritants

Dr. Afolabi recommends families avoid scented candles, air fresheners, diffusers or deodorizers in their home. Instead, use cleaning products and detergents that don't have harsh chemicals or strong scents.

If you're using cleaners with bleach, make sure your child is in a separate area of your home. You might also consider making your own cleaning solution and sticking to unscented laundry detergents and fabric softeners – or skip fabric softeners altogether.

Asthma trigger #4: Pet dander

There's no such thing as a "hypoallergenic pet." There are pets that shed less and that can make it easier for you to keep your home clean. But those pets still have dander (dry skin that they lick off). And that dander is a common allergen that can trigger asthma.

How to avoid pet dander

Dr. Afolabi, an enthusiastic dog owner herself, almost never recommends that families get rid of pets because they can add so much to your life. But she does have a few recommendations for families with pets:

• Have pets sleep in a separate room from your child

• Clean and groom your dogs regularly

• Pay special attention to cleaning the areas of the house that the pet hangs out in most

• Have your child wash their hands and face after high-contact pet play

Asthma trigger #5: Pollen and mold

Pollen and mold are the most common allergen triggers in Dallas that can cause your child's asthma to flare up if they have seasonal allergies.

"When the pollen count is high or the wind is going to spread pollen, those are not the days to have your child running around in the grass," Dr. Afolabi says.

How to minimize exposure to pollen

Use a weather app to check the pollen count each day. When the pollen count is high, make sure your child:

• Limits their time around grass or trees

• Puts their clothes in the wash after being outside

• Takes a shower after being outside

Learn more ways to minimize allergy symptoms in kids.

Asthma trigger #6: Pests

Pests like cockroaches, mice, rats, dust mites and stinging insects produce allergens that can affect kids with asthma.

Treat your home for pests

It's OK to have your home sprayed for roaches and other pests. Just make sure to ventilate afterwards because the spray can be a temporary trigger for your child.

Asthma trigger #7: Weather and air quality

Extreme temperatures – whether heat or cold – can trigger an asthma episode. When it's too hot, it can cause the airways to narrow and tighten when breathing in the hot air. When it's too cold, it can cause the airways to become dry and irritated. The best temperature for kids with asthma is between 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity (between 30-50%).

How to minimize weather-related asthma triggers

Use a weather app to track outside conditions. You may want to ensure your child stays mostly indoors when:

• The air quality is poor

• The ground level ozone is high

• It's extra hot and humid

• It's very cold

"If you're planning an outdoor play date or picnic in summer, try to go out during the coolest time of the day," says Dr. Afolabi.

Learn more about managing your child's asthma in winter.

Asthma trigger #8: Exercise

When a child with asthma runs and plays, they can develop a cough, wheezing, tightness in their chest or shortness of breath.

But it's one of many asthma myths that kids with asthma can't play sports or exercise.

Being active has so many physical, mental and social benefits for kids. So talk to your child's doctor about what kinds of exercise is best. They may recommend walking, hiking or swimming – or team sports that rely on shorter bursts of energy, like baseball or track and field.

Learn more about exercise for kids with asthma.

Asthma trigger #9: Big emotions

Being able to express and identify emotions is an important part of a happy, healthy childhood. But often, big emotions make asthma worse. It's common for kids with asthma to be laughing with friends and then feel asthma symptoms coming on. Crying, anxiety and depression can also trigger an exacerbation.

When your child gets overwhelmed, encourage them to try breathing exercises to calm themselves down.

Learn more

Children's Health offers care for the entire spectrum of children with asthma. Learn more about our asthma programs and services and how we can help manage your child's asthma.