Million school days lost to asthma

Parents are being warned about a September asthma ‘epidemic’ related directly to the start of school.

More than one million school days are lost in Ireland each year as a result of asthma and according to research, hospital admissions, A&E visits and GP consultations for childhood asthma peak as students return to school.

For some children with asthma, the summer holidays may offer a reprieve from attacks and flare-ups and from their usual asthma medications.

However in the autumn, increased exposure to asthma triggers, like indoor allergens, and colds or viruses, which tend to spread around schools during the first few weeks, can mark the return of symptoms and the need for medicines.

Dr Peter Greally, consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine at Tallaght Hospital, advises that children are at an increased risk of exposure to asthma triggers during the back-to-school period and encourages parents to monitor and control their child’s asthma at this time, especially if they have had problems in previous years on returning to school.

According to Dr Greally, recognising the signs of asthma is as simple as answering a few quick questions about the last week:
• 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?

“A ‘yes’ answer to one or more of these questions is a sign that your child’s asthma may not be under control and you should consult with your doctor about suitable controller medicines”, he explained.

For more on asthma, see our Asthma Clinic at… http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/asthma/index.html

See also…www.allergyandasthma.ie/

[Posted: Mon 18/08/2008]