HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Asthma medications for children
Rongoā mate huangō mō ngā tamariki
There are many asthma medications. Which one your tamaiti (child) needs depends on how severe and frequent their asthma symptoms are. Sometimes they will have to take more than one.
The main types of asthma medications are:
- short-acting symptom relievers – taken when needed to ease symptoms
- asthma preventers – taken every day to prevent symptoms from developing
- prednisone – tablets or liquid, used for a short time when symptoms are severe.
Inhalers
There are different types of inhaler devices, some of which are used with a spacer. Which one is best for your tamaiti will depend on how old they are and how severe their asthma is.
It is important that you and your tamaiti are shown how to use their inhaler properly because this will mean they get the correct dose of medication.
Click the image to the right to see a larger version of the poster showing the inhalers available in New Zealand.
Learn more about inhalers and how to use them on KidsHealth.
Short-acting symptom relievers
A reliever inhaler contains a medication called a bronchodilator, which relaxes the muscles in the airways. Your tamaiti uses this inhaler if they have symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath. They can also use a reliever inhaler before exercising to prevent wheezing.
You can use extra doses of a reliever if your tamaiti is having a more severe asthma attack.
If your tamaiti needs to use their reliever inhaler regularly, it is important that you see your general practice team to look at other asthma treatments. Regularly means most days or several times a day once or twice a week.
Your tamaiti should always have their reliever inhaler with them in case of an asthma attack.
Preventers
The medicine in these inhalers is a steroid, which helps to reduce the inflammation and swelling in the airways. If your tamaiti is given one of these, it is important to use it every day to keep their airways healthy and prevent symptoms from developing.
It is safe for your tamaiti to use preventers for long periods.
Long-acting reliever inhalers
These are sometimes recommended for tamariki (children) whose asthma is not well controlled by using a preventer regularly. The medicines in these inhalers work for up to 12 hours to keep the airways open. They do not contain steroids, but they must be used with a steroid (preventer) inhaler.
Combination inhalers
Combination inhalers include a preventer and a long-acting reliever in the same inhaler. Your tamaiti needs to use this inhaler every day but it is not suitable for emergencies.
Spacers
With some inhalers, using a spacer helps to get more of the medicine into your lungs. Many of the newer inhalers are designed to be used without a spacer.
A small volume spacer with a mask is used for tamariki who are too young to use a mouthpiece.
See Using a spacer for instructions.
Other asthma medications
Oral steroids
Oral steroids are usually given to your tamaiti if their asthma is going through a bad patch or not settling down. They are either given as prednisone tablets or Redipred liquid.
Oral steroids work quite quickly by reducing the inflammation in the airways. They are usually taken for 3 to 5 days.
They can have side effects but usually only if taken for a long period of time. Your general practice team will discuss this with you.
Montelukast
Given as a chewable table once a day, montelukast works as a preventer by reducing inflammation in the airways. It is sometimes used when other preventers are not working. For example, if your tamaiti gets asthma when exercising.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- National Asthma Council of Australia – Using your inhaler
These videos show how to use several different types of inhaler and how to use a spacer.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ – Asthma medication
Information about medications and types of asthma devices.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2025.
SourcesReview key: HIASC-12638
