Return to school may spark hike in asthma cases
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.
“Just as you would prepare to start back to training for the autumn sports season, children should prepare for returning to school with asthma. Planning in advance is really important,” he said.
The exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens, colds and flu viruses, and the changing weather conditions, are all factors in the increase in the peak in children’s asthma exacerbation at the beginning of the school year.
Among the society’s recommended actions during the weeks before classes begin are that parents make an appointment with the child’s GP for an asthma review, to include a written plan to help manage the child’s asthma. It is also essential that a children take any medication as it is prescribed, especially preventer medication.
As well as packing a reliever inhaler in an asthma sufferer’s school bag, parents are also advised to make sure their school knows he or she has asthma and check if staff know what to do if the child has an attack.
“These are some simple steps parents and children with asthma can take to ensure they stay healthy and enjoy optimal asthma control. If the child has stopped taking their preventer medication over the summer holidays, now is the time to start back as it can take a few weeks to get maximum effect,” said consultant paediatrician Dr Basil Elnazir, a member of the Asthma Society medical board.
* Further information is available from www.asthmasociety.ie
