Return to school may spark hike in asthma cases

THE imminent return to school may cause a rise in asthma among children but families have been advised that the risk can be reduced with a bit of planning.

Former Ireland international rugby player Denis Hickie was diagnosed with the condition when he was 18, but he believes a few steps can help young sufferers reduce the estimated 1.3 million school days lost each year because of asthma.

He is backing the Asthma Society of Ireland’s programme 10-point plan to help parents ease children back to school, designed around the fact that child admissions to hospital with asthma increase by about 12% each September and October.