Campus Construction Update

The Menino building lobby entrance is currently closed. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Information for Parents

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Visits to the Clinic

1. What can I expect during my first visit to the Pulmonary and Allergy Clinic?

All first-time visitors to the Pulmonary and Allergy Clinic will receive the following:

  • Introduction to Clinic staff and routines
  • Complete check-up
  • Breathing tests if relevant to the child’s condition
  • New treatment plan which meets patient's and family's needs
  • Education and training for patient and family to carry out treatment plan
  • Regular and timely communication with the referring clinician concerning all aspects of the patient’s evaluation and treatment

Depending on your child’s symptoms, test results and/or diagnosis, you may also receive:

  • Asthma control tips
  • Immunologic evaluation
  • Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
  • Chest X-ray
  • Sleep apnea test referral

2. What can I expect during follow-up visits?

  • Review home peak flow
  • Further testing such as: breathing, allergy, skin, blood, antibiotic, food, and sting allergy
  • Learn to control your asthma aggravators
  • Improve treatment plan
  • Regular and timely communication with the referring clinician concerning all aspects of the patient’s evaluation and treatment

Tips for Keeping an Asthmatic Child Well

  1. Have regular, preventative check-ups with your pediatrician, even when your child is well.
  2. Keep a stock of medicine on hand and have medicine available (especially quick relief medicine) at every place your child spends time -- home, grandparents' house, daycare, school, and after school program. Never run out of medicine. Call your doctor's office for refills when you need them.
  3. Allow your child as much independence in managing asthma as his/her maturity permits. That applies to taking medications, checking peak flows, selecting activities, and avoiding triggers.
  4. Continue to supervise your child in every aspect of asthma care – make sure medicines are taken as scheduled and correctly.
  5. Encourage your child to stay active, to play hard, and take part in sports. Don't restrict your child needlessly. If asthma symptoms come with exercise, tell the doctor.
  6. Be honest with the doctor – ask questions, express your worries, and complaints. Tell the doctor when the asthma treatment plan is not working, inconvenient, or unacceptable to you.
  7. Reduce allergens and irritants at home.
  8. When asthma symptoms start, stay calm and follow your written treatment plan. If you don't have written directions for treating asthma at home, ask your doctor for a written treatment plan.
  9. Know how to reach the doctor for advice when asthma symptoms don't clear up right away.
  10. Try to keep your child from getting colds:
  • Get a flu shot every fall
  • Wash hands often in winter flu season
  • Try to stay away from other people with colds
  • When cold symptoms start, use your favorite home remedy, and tell your doctor about it

Asthma Education

"So You Have Asthma"
Information on what asthma is, symptoms of asthma, how to prevent asthma, and asthma attacks.

"What Is Asthma?"
Information on asthma causes, risk factors, signs & symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, prevention, coping.

"You Can Control Your Asthma"
A guide to every aspect of asthma and its control.

"Dusty the Asthma Goldfish and His Asthma Triggers Funbook"
A delightful coloring book to introduce children to asthma and asthma triggers. English and Spanish.

"Help Your Child Gain Control over Asthma"
A comprehensive book for parents and children about asthma.

"Asthma Home Environment Checklist"
Detailed guide to assessing your own home environment for respiratory risks.

Resources for Parents

  • Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
    Resource list for both kids and adults including lists of books, videos, games and educational materials about asthma. Order forms are online.
  • BREATHE (Bringing Asthma Education to Homes Everywhere)
    Provides Asthma Facts, Tips For Urban Parents, Tips For Urban Teens and links to Additional Resources.
  • Better Asthma Health Profiles
    This site is designed to help you learn about asthma, its causes and its treatment. Includes a link to frequently asked questions, symptoms of asthma and facts on asthma.
  • Life Quality Test
    If you or your child have been told you have asthma, or even if you have occasional problems taking a good, deep breath, this simple test from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) may help improve your LIFE QUALITY (or "LQ"). Also available for Spanish-speakers.
  • Sapient Health Network
    Allows powerful Searching of trusted sources of information like Reuters Health News and the MDX Health Digest, plus the ability to search for health information on the entire web. Includes a 24-hour asthma only chat room.
  • American Lung Association
  • National Jewish Medical and Research Center
    The only medical and research center in the United States devoted entirely to respiratory, allergic and immune system diseases, including asthma and severe allergies. Includes information on managed care, patient services and medical news.
  • Allergy and Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.
    Mails information monthly about asthma to your home. Provides an information source to call toll free. Provides discounts on products commonly used by people with asthma and allergies.