Most children with asthma need medicines only during asthma attacks. When Asthma Medicines Should Be Taken Wheezing. If you have any doubt about whether or not your child is wheezing, have your child start taking his asthma medicine. The later medicines are begun, the longer it takes to stop the wheezing. Once treatment with the medicines is begun, keep your child on the medicine until he has not wheezed or coughed for 48 hours.
Many children wheeze soon after they get coughs and colds.
Start the asthma inhaler or oral medicine at the first sign of any coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Always keep the medicine handy and take it with you on trips. If your supply runs low, get a refill. Peak flow meters. The most reliable way to detect the start of an asthma attack is by using a peak flow meter, which can measure the air flow out of the lungs.