If this becomes a concern, discuss it with your doctor immediately. It's very common for adolescents to deny they have asthma, so they stop taking medications and have more flares and symptoms. If this happens, you may need to monitor your adolescent's care until he's ready to do it by himself. Remember to maintain your child's dignity when dealing with asthma. Older children should be actively included in all discussions and treatment choices, because they are the ones who ultimately have to deal with side effects and daily compliance.
Uncontrolled asthma can lead to depression and low self-esteem.
These feelings may manifest in emotional outbursts and poor school performance. Be proactive with early intervention by a school counselor, teacher, or physician to encourage compliance with doctor's orders. Teens with asthma should be encouraged to live as normal a life as possible with the help of medications and thoughtful limitations. Some teens tend to shy away from normal activities such as sports and even school dances because they are afraid of having a flare. Educate your child to understand how monitoring medication and breathing lets him do just about anything he wants to do.