RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenAsthma
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- After an asthma attack, arrange a GP or asthma-nurse review within 2 days, even if feeling better.
- Get urgent advice today if breathing is worsening, the reliever is needed more often than usual, symptoms interrupt sleep, or the inhaler is not lasting as long as the personal asthma plan says it should.
- Follow the personal asthma action plan and the instructions for the prescribed inhaler. Different types of reliever have different maximum doses.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- An asthma attack that is getting worse at any time.
- No improvement after the maximum reliever dose in the personal asthma action plan, or an asthma attack without a reliever inhaler available.
- Being too breathless to speak, or a child being too breathless to talk, feed or cry.
- Exhaustion, becoming unusually quiet or drowsy, or very little air moving despite struggling to breathe.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
