Newswise — While for many children back to school season brings exciting new changes— new teachers, classrooms and friends— children with asthma face an old foe. Summer is often a reprieve from attacks and exacerbations, but in the fall, increased exposure to respiratory viruses and new allergens and irritants can bring asthma out of hiding.
Every year, there is a spike in asthma exacerbations and hospitalizations that coincides with back-to-school season.
Fortunately, there are a few things parents can do to reduce the odds of their child having an attack or hospitalization, according to Lynn B. Gerald, PhD, MSPH, associate professor and assistant director of the lung health center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who co-chaired the American Thoracic Society's 2007 statement on Issues Related to Screening for Asthma in Children.
"Along with buying back-to-school supplies and filling out school forms, parents of children with asthma should have an asthma care checklist," says Dr. Gerald.
That checklist should include the following:
* Making sure children are taking their asthma control medications prior to starting back to school (inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene receptor antagonists) as these have been shown to help prevent exacerbations even when exposures to triggers occur.
* Having an asthma action plan and your rescue medication at school. An asthma action plan is a customized plan that should be created with your doctor and include detailed information about when and how to use peak flow monitors, and daily and emergency medications. Having your child's medication at school will require a physician's order and some forms that you must complete, but your peace of mind and your child's safety is well worth the added time and effort.
* Scheduling a meeting before school begins with your child's new teacher. Talk with teachers about potential triggers/irritants present in the classroom and other areas of the school where your child will be.
* Giving your child a refresher course in hand-washing. Proper washing is a simple, effective measure to reduce the spread of infections in diverse settings. Proper handwashing: 1. Wet your hands and apply liquid, bar, or powder soap. 2. Rub hands together vigorously to make a lather and scrub all surfaces (front and back of hands, between fingers and fingernails). 3. Continue for 20 seconds! It takes that long to dislodge and remove stubborn germs. Twenty seconds is about equal to singing "Happy Birthday" all the way through twice! 4. Rinse hands well under running water. 5. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. 6. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
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