Back to School Asthma attacks!

According to Asthma and Lung UK, every September, there’s a rise in the number of children in the UK who go to hospital because of asthma attacks. 

Some children get out of routine during the summer holidays and do not take their preventer medicines as prescribed. This can lead to their asthma being poorly controlled when they go back to school.

Children can also  be exposed to asthma triggers when they go back to school or nursery, for example:

• air pollution
• colds and flu
• dust mites
• strong emotions, like fear, stress and excitement
• physical activity
• mould
• pollen

Now is a good time to remind parents of children with asthma to ensure their asthma is well controlled! Consider sending a message to all parents of children with asthma to remind them to:

• Make sure your child is using their steroid preventer inhaler as prescribed, as this helps to prevent inflammation in the airways, reducing their risk of an asthma attack.
• Arrange for your child to have an annual asthma review with their GP or asthma nurse as soon as possible. This will pick up early symptoms and can help to identify triggers.
• Check your child has the right asthma medicines and they are taking them in the right way, to manage their asthma and keep them well.
• Familiarise yourself with your child’s school policy on administering medication.
• Have an up-to-date asthma action plan and share it with your child’s school. You can download it here: Your child’s asthma action plan | Asthma + Lung UK
• Make sure your child can use their inhalers correctly and knows when to ask for help. Your GP or asthma nurse can check your child’s inhaler technique at their annual review. Videos are also available on the Asthma + Lung UK website, How to use your inhaler | Asthma + Lung UK or speak to your pharmacist