One of the first steps in an Action Plan to control your asthma is to identify your asthma triggers and then to avoid it as best possible.

1. Identify your asthma triggers
A skin test to identify asthma triggers can determine which allergens you should try to avoid. These tests can be done on children from the age of six months, and adults.

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2. Avoid dust mite
Studies have shown that infants exposed to fewer dust mites during infancy are less likely to develop allergic asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Aggressive mite control can reduce the occurrence of asthma as well as upper respiratory allergy. Follow these guidelines to prepare a bedroom free form house-dust mite. 

3. Avoid exposure to furry animals
Exposure to pets during infancy may increase the risk of developing asthma. For this reason children from allergic families should not be exposed to pets with fur during their first few years. Animal allergies are triggered by proteins in the saliva, urine and dander (dried skin flakes) of dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents and other animals with hair or fur.

4. Avoid maternal smoking during pregnancy, and smoke in the home
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased wheezing during infancy in the children of smokers.

Exposing children to secondhand smoke in the home has been shown to increase asthma and other chronic respiratory illnesses during childhood. It is extremely important that infants not be exposed to secondhand smoke pre-birth or during childhood, the AAAAI cautioned.

5. Avoid respiratory infections and large group day care for infants
Respiratory infections are a common trigger of asthma and may even initiate it. For this reason, mothers should breastfeed their infants for at least six months to strengthen the child’s immune system to avoid respiratory infections and asthma.

It is best to avoid placing very young children in group day care, as this is more likely to increase their exposure to respiratory infections, and consequently, trigger asthma.
South African pediatricians caution parents to avoid group day care for children younger than 3 years, unless the group is smaller than 6 children. 

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