Going home from the Emergency Department on AIR or MART after an asthma attack

AIR and MART

You are currently using a single inhaler to manage your asthma. This inhaler contains the medicines budesonide (this is an inhaled steroid to treat redness or inflammation in your breathing tubes) and formoterol (this is a rapid and long-acting reliever for your symptoms). This inhaler is a dry powder device and is called either Symbicort® or Fobumix®.

Some young people, who rarely experience asthma symptoms, will use AIR (Anti- Inflammatory Reliever). This should only be used when you have a cough, wheeze, difficulty breathing or chest tightness (asthma symptoms). Other young people will use a different approach with the single inhaler called MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy).

This should be used either once or twice a day, with extra doses if you are having asthma symptoms. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will have explained which plan you are to follow.

This leaflet explains how you can manage your asthma after you have been to the Emergency Department with an asthma attack. If the staff in the Emergency Department are unable to check your inhaler to ensure you have enough supplies that are in date, for safety reasons you will be sent home with a salbutamol inhaler and spacer.

On the day you are discharged from the Emergency Department

Once your doctor or nurse is happy that your breathing is getting better after your asthma attack, it is time to go home. You should continue to use your inhaler as set out in your asthma plan.

You may have used a salbutamol inhaler and spacer in the Emergency Department, but you do not need this at home; you should only need your single inhaler.

Days after the attack

Although you should be recovering well from your visit to the Emergency Department, you may still have an occasional cough or a slight wheeze.

• You should use 1 puff of your inhaler as needed
• You can have a maximum of 8 doses in total in a day, including any regular doses
• You do not need to use extra doses of your inhaler unless you feel you need to
• You can return to normal activities (e.g. school/clubs) when you feel you are well enough
• Your GP will receive information about your attendance at the Emergency Department. All young people who have had an asthma attack should have a post-attack review, usually within 2 working days, with a member of the team at your GP surgery. Your surgery may decide this should be with a GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse or Pharmacist. You or your parent or carer will need to arrange this. You may need to change treatment from AIR to MART to
  help recover after this attack, so it is important to attend for this review even if you feel better.

For advice on how to manage asthma attacks, please follow the plan below. You will be aware of which pathway to follow – either AIR or MART.

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