Asthma alert: Why back-to-school can spark a spike

Parents are being urged to prepare for a huge jump in asthma cases as kids return to school. Here’s how to help your child stay safe.

As students start returning to the classroom, experts are warning parents to be ready for a back-to-school asthma spike.

Australian research shows returning to school coincides with asthma flare-ups and an increase of up to 25 per cent of children’s hospital admissions for asthma.

Paediatric respiratory physician Dr Louisa Owens confirmed the trend.

“We definitely see a spike in asthma admissions in early February after the schools go back,” Dr Owens says.

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Why is asthma worse in February?

Dr Owens, who is also a member of the National Asthma Council Australia Guidelines Committee, says the sharp rise in children with asthma admitted to hospital each February is caused by a number of factors.

Change of environment or allergens

Returning to school can lead to exposure to allergic triggers.

“Classrooms can be quite dusty places where windows and doors haven’t been opened for months,” Dr Owens says.

Sharing new bugs with classmates

Dr Owens says being in close contact with friends can trigger colds and respiratory infections.

“They’re sitting beside each other, hugging each other, passing on all the usual viral germs that kids pass on,” Dr Owens says.

“Having spent months outside running around, they haven’t really had that close proximity to each other, so we see a drop off in respiratory viruses over the summer months.

“February is when they start back up again.”

Interrupted routines during holidays

Dr Owens says childrens’ regular habits often lapse during holidays.

“Routines aren’t as strict over the summer holidays, so perhaps the regular use of a preventer and inhaler falls off a little bit,” she says.

Anxiety

Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Karen Price says returning to the classroom may heighten emotions such as stress and anxiety that could trigger asthma symptoms.

“There can be the anxiety of going back to school, so it’s important for parents to keep a close eye on their children,” Dr Price says.

Is asthma a risk factor for Covid-19?

Most children who contract Covid-19 have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic and this includes children with asthma, but Dr Owens says poorly controlled asthma may be a risk factor.

“We’ve got preliminary data from New South Wales, which shows around 20 per cent of children who were in ICU with the Delta variant also had asthma,” Dr Owens says.

“Other studies from Scotland have shown it is children with poor control of their asthma who are most at risk.”

Dr Owens and Dr Price are encouraging parents of children with asthma to visit their GP for an asthma check-up and to vaccinate their children to help protect them from becoming seriously ill with Covid-19.

“If parents are unsure about getting their child with asthma vaccinated, then we encourage them to make an appointment with their GP and have a discussion as soon as possible,” Dr Owens says.

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What else can parents do to ease asthma concerns?

“Now is the time to have a full asthma check-up including a review of your child’s written Asthma Action Plan, medications and inhaler technique for relievers and preventers ahead of the February back-to-school asthma spike,” Dr Price says.

She says statistics show just 28 per cent of Australian children with asthma have a written asthma action plan.

But the good news is around 80 per cent of asthma admissions to hospital are preventable.

“As a parent you need to get actively involved and work with your health care provider,” Dr Price says.

“I understand it’s a challenging experience, but the more you interact with health professionals, the more likely it is you can get that asthma well controlled.”

Back to school asthma checklist

The National Asthma Council Australia has prepared a checklist to help children with asthma have a symptom-free return to school.

• Schedule an asthma check-up with your GP and discuss Covid-19 if you have questions.
• Share a copy of your child’s up-to-date written Asthma Action Plan with school staff and after-school carers.
• Ensure your child knows to tell school staff when they have asthma symptoms.
• Ensure your child is taking any asthma prevention medicine as prescribed.
• Check your child knows how to effectively use their inhaler by themselves (if old enough).
• Get the seasonal flu shot every year for your child and family members.

Written by Bianca Carmona.