Column: Going Back To School With Asthma
[Column written by Lindsay Bishop RN]
Going back to school in September is an exciting and busy time for both students and parents; however, if you are the parent of a child with asthma it is important to be prepared ahead of time.
All over the world, the start of the school year is known to bring a sharp rise in the number of asthma attacks and Emergency Room visits, known as the September peak, in the 2nd and 3rd weeks following the return to school.
Students have been in camps enjoying the fresh air, swimming etc. Classrooms have been closed during the summer break, providing lots of triggers for students with asthma and allergies. Though it is great to be back with classmates, close contact with large groups helps viruses to thrive.
Preparation for back to school should start at least two weeks before school resumes.
Over the summer your child may have been well and not using their preventer inhaler. Now is the time to ensure they are using their preventer inhalers daily or as prescribed. It can take 2 weeks of daily use, to provide good protection against severe attacks.
Each child should always have a reliever inhaler such as Ventolin and a spacer available for emergencies, either in the school bag or held by the teacher for younger students. Be sure these are labelled and that your child and their teacher know how and when to use them. The mask type spacers are for 0 to 4 years only. By 4 a mouthpiece spacer is recommended and for all ages including adults. These ensure much more medicine reaches the lungs.
Some students may be using other types of inhalers, that do not require a spacer. Some may be prescribed combination inhalers that have both preventer and reliever in them. Be sure to check with the pharmacist that you have all the equipment needed and ask them to demonstrate or check the technique.
On your next visit, discuss SMART Therapy with your child’s doctor. Global guidelines say this is best practice with certainty for over 12s and with moderate certainty for 6- to 12-year-olds. One inhaler [Symbicort] instead of two to control asthma!
The Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] organization wants to remove “MILD” asthma from medical vocabulary. 25% of deaths and hospital admissions are in patients who have not had a flare up in over 3 months. Saying asthma is mild encourages patients and parents to relax and perhaps omit preventative inhalers, perhaps forget to take pumps to school and perhaps forget to renew their prescription.
Your child should have a written “Asthma Action Plan”, now is the time to review that plan with their physician, a copy of the Asthma Action Plan should be given to your child’s school.
The 2024 / 2025 Bermuda Student Asthma Registry has just been released. Make sure to add your child to this registry so that asthma specialists as well as your child’s teacher will know the nature and severity of your child’s asthma and be able to prioritize assistance. https://bit.ly/2024BermudaStudentAsthmaRegistry.
The student should be added every year, in addition to informing your child’s school.
The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for all children with asthma. Ensure your child’s immunizations are up to date and check their Covid, pertussis and RSV are up to date.
Encourage your child to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of fresh air and exercise and wash their hands frequently.
Let’s be prepared for the new school year so that we do not see large numbers of children visiting the Emergency room and missing time from school. We want all of our students to have a happy healthy school year and be able to participate in all school activities including sports. Asthma is treatable and with knowledge, your child should not miss school or sports. Many elite athletes have asthma and have reached their potential by being well informed and following best practice guidelines.
Open Airways offers FREE one-on-one individual consultations for anyone with asthma or COPD – no referral is required. For any questions you may have, or to book an appointment, please contact: Open Airways – Lindsay Bishop nurse@openairways.com or call 536-6060.
- Lindsay Bishop RN, Director of Asthma Education – Open Airways
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