Hospitalisation Spike Likely During Back-to-school Period

Parents and teachers should prepare for a spike in asthma
attacks leading to increased hospitalisations during the
early weeks of Term 1.

The Asthma and Respiratory
Foundation NZ is encouraging everyone to be aware of the
symptoms of an attack and how to respond. Symptoms of an
asthma attack are a worsening cough, persistent wheeze,
being short of breath and/or feeling tight in the
chest.

Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the
back-to-school period is always a vulnerable time for the
one in eight Kiwi children living with asthma.

“The
‘back-to-school effect’ is greater than the ‘winter
effect’ when it comes to children’s respiratory disease
with hospitalisations from asthma attacks at their highest
during weeks 3 and 4 of Term 1.”

International studies
have shown that a variety of factors are associated with the
increase, including a change of environment and exposure to
different allergens, changes in emotions such as stress or
anxiety, and exposure to more viruses from being around more
people, Ms Harding says.

To keep children safe through
the return-to-school period, parents and caregivers should
ensure that their child has an Asthma Action Plan, which is
shared with their school and their teacher, Ms Harding
says.

“Make sure your child is taking their preventer
medication as prescribed and bringing their reliever inhaler
to school, and check that it’s not empty or out of
date.”

Asthma is a common illness in New Zealand,
affecting one in eight children and one in eight adults.
About 98 people die from asthma each year – that’s nearly
two people per week.

In addition, one third of all
respiratory-related hospital admissions are children and it
is estimated that more than 350,000 school days are lost
each year due to asthma-related symptoms in
children.

For most children going back to school is an
exciting time, Ms Harding says.

“But unfortunately,
for many, this period can lead to severe reactions – putting
children at risk.

“That’s why investing in educating
children about asthma is a huge focus for us,” she
says.

The Foundation also provides numerous Sailor the
Pufferfish live musical shows at schools throughout the year
to help children and teachers learn about asthma triggers
and what to do in an emergency. These lessons can also be
accessed digitally through our website.

Asthma
Action Plans can be downloaded for free on the
Foundation’s
website.

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