Are parents too pessimistic about kids' asthma control?

Moms and dads often have sky-high expectations for their children in the classroom and on the playing field. But when it comes to controlling their child's asthma, many parents' expectations are unnecessarily low, according to a new study. And this may mean kids have too many days with asthma symptoms.

Research shows that around 4 in 10 children with asthma don't have adequate control of their condition, and a similar number don't use daily controller medications, which can prevent wheezing, coughing, and asthma attacks. In the new study, researchers explored whether parents' expectations and beliefs about asthma and its treatments might be partly responsible.

Researchers surveyed more than 700 parents of children ages 2 to 12 who had persistent asthma. They asked about each child's symptoms and how well parents believed these symptoms could be controlled. Specific questions covered whether they thought their child could be symptom-free, participate fully in gym class and other physical activities, and avoid emergency room visits. Researchers found that children were more likely to have frequent symptoms if their parents had low expectations for how well their asthma could be controlled.

Researchers also asked: "If your child had asthma symptoms two days per week, how would you rate his/her control?" In the study, 6 in 10 parents said they would rate it as "good," "very good" or "excellent." But national guidelines grade this level of control as less than optimal, since regular treatment can often prevent symptoms.

Parents' low expectations may be partly grounded in misconceptions about asthma and its medications. The researchers found:

• Some parents thought that asthma comes and goes rather than being an ongoing condition
• Some believed that medication was necessary only when their child had symptoms (with persistent asthma, doctors recommend regular medication use).

Children were also more likely to have poorly-controlled symptoms if they didn't have a set time or routine for taking their asthma medication, or if their parents had other worries, such as job concerns, relationship problems or trouble keeping up with bills.

What you need to know. If your child frequently gets asthma symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor. With the right treatment on the right schedule, your child should be able to get their symptoms in check. And that can help them meet those expectations in the classroom and on the playing field.

—Sophie Ramsey, patient editor, BMJ Group

ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.

Find out if your child's asthma is mild or severe, and what questions you should ask your doctor about treatment. For more on what you can do to relieve your child's symptoms, read our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) and our free Best Buy Drugs report on asthma drugs.