Ensure your patients are asthma ready for school!

Ensure your patients are asthma ready for school!

Pharmacists are an important support for parents and carers of children with asthma in helping ensure they are ‘asthma ready’ for school.

Every year there is a well-documented spike in asthma flare-ups when children return to school after the summer break. This results in a significant increase in Emergency Department visits, hospitalisations and days off school. Not only is this unsettling for children as they start a new year at school, but often it impacts on time off work for the parents/carers also. In light of the recent poor air quality due to bushfires children with asthma are especially susceptible to an asthma flare-up.

Why do asthma flare-ups happen at this time?

This pattern is consistent with international studies after the long summer school holiday break in other countries too. Our asthma experts tell us that major factors include:

- With the loss of routine over the summer holidays sometimes preventer medicines are not taken daily as prescribed and Asthma Action Plans are not adhered to as strictly.

- The inevitable spread of viruses when children return to school and mix with each other.

What do the parents/carers of children with asthma say?

From 400 respondents to Asthma Australia’s parent/carer online survey in 2019:

- 80% of respondents reported they had not heard of ‘back to school asthma.’ This was similar amongst a survey of 150 school staff of which 82% reported they had not heard of the phenomenon.

- 95% of parents/carers reported their child has at least one asthma flare-up at school each year

- 92% of parents provided the school with an updated Asthma Action/Care Plan at the start of the year

- Only 56% of parents met with their child’s teacher to discuss their asthma management

- Only 26% of parents asked the school about their asthma management policy

- 78% of parents spoke to their child about how to manage their asthma

- Only 54% of parents/carers were very or extremely confident in the teacher’s ability to manage their child’s asthma.

What role do Pharmacists play?

Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring parents and carers of children with asthma are ready for the return to school:

- Advise parents of Asthma Australia’s handy Back to School Asthma Checklist, available for download at www.asthma.org.au/back-to-school

- Ensure parents have purchased reliever medication, spacer and mask, all clearly labelled with their child’s details. This is to be kept at school in case of an asthma emergency.

- Undertake an inhaler technique demonstration to ensure the child is getting the correct dose of medicine into the lungs, and

- Speak with parents and carers on the importance of talking with their child’s teacher and school about asthma management for their child.

- Remind parents of the importance of following their child’s Asthma Plan in readiness for school. Just because school stops, that doesn’t mean a child’s asthma medication does too. As you know, preventer medication can take a few weeks to reach its full effect. Parents and carers should remain vigilant with their child's prescribed preventer medication for a safe return to school with good asthma control.

- If parents have ongoing concerns or questions about their child’s asthma, they can call 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) our free telephone information and education service, to speak with an Asthma Educator.

Discuss how parents can help their child at school during poor air quality

Back to school is an ordinarily high-risk time for children with asthma, and in light of the recent smoky conditions due to bushfires they are especially susceptible to an asthma flare-up. PM2.5 from bushfire smoke has a cumulative impact on the body and people should limit exposure as much as possible given the prolonged exposure this season already.

In conversations with parents and children about their asthma management, be sure to discuss if they have experienced smoky conditions and if their child has shown symptoms from exposure.

Remind parents the importance of taking preventer medication every day and encourage them to discuss their child’s asthma management, particularly during smoky conditions, with their school.

For advice about what to do during periods of poor air quality, see Asthma Australia’s website https://asthma.org.au/about-asthma/triggers/airquality/

Please note, while face masks have been recommended for use by people at high risk during the smoky conditions, they are not recommended for children under 12 as they are not considered safe or effective. Facemasks must be form fitting and generally children’s faces are too small to create a tight seal.

For more information visit www.asthma.org.au