Important advice on keeping asthma under control as children go back to school
10 August 2010

In advance of the new school year, Asthma UK is offering important advice on keeping children’s asthma under control in order to prevent emergency hospital admissions for the condition.  

Provisional figures released by the NHS Information Centre today show that hospital admissions for asthma among children aged 16 and under were 58 per cent higher in September 2009 than the monthly average for the year, which is consistent with known trends in hospital admissions rates.  

Erica Evans, Head Nurse at Asthma UK, says: ‘We know that children’s admissions for asthma peak in September, which coincides with the start of the new school year. There are a number of possible factors involved, including the spreading of colds and viruses, the potential stresses that a new school term can bring and children not taking their regular preventer medicine over the summer holidays.
 
‘We also know that a quarter of children with asthma miss six or more days from school a year as a result of the condition, which can have a significant knock on effect on school work.’
 
Asthma UK is urging parents of children with asthma to take a range of simple, precautionary steps this August in order to prepare for the school term ahead:
 

• Get a personal asthma action plan for your child
  Having a tailored plan for your child can help you recognise when their asthma is under control, when it’s getting worse and what you should do about it. Evidence suggests that those with a plan are four times less likely to have an emergency hospital admission for their asthma, so for more information, speak to your doctor or asthma nurse, or visit Asthma UK’s website, asthma.org.uk 
  

• Ensure that your child has an asthma review
  Erica Evans continues: ‘A child should have a review every 6-12 months and this is an important opportunity to ask questions about their medicines and asthma triggers, and to check inhaler technique. It’s also important to see the GP or asthma nurse whenever your child’s asthma symptoms get noticeably worse, as their medicines may need to be changed or adjusted.’  

• Find out how your child’s school manages asthma.
  It’s important that the school has an asthma policy and Asthma UK can help them develop one. It’s also vital to ensure that children have easy access to their asthma medicines at school.

 
Erica adds: ‘It’s essential that parents and school staff work together during the school year to make sure that asthma is well-managed and to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions for the condition. Asthma is the most common long-term condition among children, but the vast majority of pupils with asthma should be able to lead full and active lives, as long as their condition is under control and they are well supported by school staff’.