Parents urged to predict child asthma attacks
The back-to-school period in September has become a time of peak hospital admissions, visits to emergency departments and family doctors for asthma sufferers. It is believed that the return to school increases children’s exposure to asthma triggers like indoor allergens, colds and viruses that tend to spread around schools during the first few weeks back in class.
Based on estimated figures of one in five children having asthma, and losing 10 days each year because of it, about 1.3 million school days are lost as a direct result of the disease annually.
Dr Peter Greally, consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, encouraged parents to monitor and control their child’s asthma on returning to school.
“Parents know their children best and if they remember asthma difficulties in previous years during the back-to-school period, they should be even more vigilant this year.
“Recognising the signs of worsening asthma is as simple as answering a few quick questions about the last week,” he said.
These questions are as follows:
Were there asthma symptoms on more than two days?
Was activity or exercise limited by asthma?
Did asthma symptoms cause waking at night?
Was the reliever inhaler used twice or more?
Dr Greally said that a yes answer to one or more of the questions was a sign that a child’s asthma may not be under control and that, in those circumstances, parents should consult with the child’s doctor.
The Asthma Control Check, a simple questionnaire derived from one recommended by international asthma management guidelines, can reveal worsening of asthma symptoms using simple questions and help in discussions with a doctor about a child’s asthma.
The questionnaire as well as further information on asthma symptoms and triggers are available at www.allergyandasthma.ie.
