Parents and carers in the Black Country are being urged to include asthma care in their back-to-school preparations and help prevent a predicted “September surge” in asthma attacks.
Asthma is a lung condition that affects around one in every 11 children and causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. It can be controlled very well with the right medication, but this needs to be taken daily and reviewed regularly to ensure it stays effective.
Every September there is a surge in children and young people being hospitalised because of their asthma, which is linked to changes in weather and an increase in exposure to triggers such as seasonal viruses when children return to school.
Viv Marsh, specialist asthma nurse and Black Country clinical lead for children and young people’s asthma transformation, said: “Going back to school in September can have a big impact on asthma symptoms and we always see a spike in the number of children and young people suffering asthma attacks, which can be very serious and even life-threatening.
“Even if your child is feeling well and has been running around all summer, it’s vital to keep on top of their asthma medication and ensure they’re taking their preventer inhaler as instructed by their GP or asthma nurse.
“It’s easy to fall out of your usual asthma care routine during the long summer break, but it’s never too early to get back into it. Preventer medication builds up over time to calm the inflammation in your child’s lungs, so getting back in the habit now means they’ll have the best level of protection before they head back into the classroom.”
Asthma varies from one child to the next, but most types of asthma can be managed well by using a preventer inhaler every day to control their asthma. A reliever (blue) inhaler may be needed occasionally if symptoms flare up.
Anyone with asthma is at risk of having an asthma attack, which usually need urgent medical treatment. Asthma attacks can even be fatal. This is why it is crucial to ensure children and young people take their medication even when feeling well, and to take action if their asthma seems to be getting worse.
Every child with a diagnosis of asthma should also have an annual asthma review, where their inhaler technique is checked and they are provided with an up-to-date asthma action plan.
Viv Marsh added: “The annual asthma review only takes a few minutes, but it’s one of the most important tools we have for keeping children well and out of hospital.
“If your child is overdue their review, or is due one soon, I would strongly advise booking in the next few weeks to make sure their asthma management is optimal ahead of the return to school and the onset of winter.
“Our children have already missed out on a lot of school because of the pandemic, so it’s important that we do all we can to make sure asthma doesn’t become the reason they miss even more.”
