City asthma spike
THE FOUR STEPS OF ASTHMA FIRST AID
ASTHMA is on the rise in Geelong, with nearly 500 severe cases presenting to Barwon Health’s emergency department in need of urgent care every year. Asthma-related respiratory distress is now the leading cause of emergency presentations and ward admissions in children at Geelong hospital. In a particularly chilly 48hour period last week, more than a dozen Geelong and Surf Coast residents called 000 for help with their asthma, as winter’s flu season rolled into spring. From Monday to Wednesday afternoon last week asthma ambulance call-outs included senior citizens and schoolchildren. Emergency department consultant Luke Phillips said the combination of flu season, cold weather and socio-economic challenges, such as the elderly being unable to afford proper heating, were behind the spike in asthma presentations. “We are in the midst of the worst flu season Geelong has seen and asthmatics get much worse with these viral triggers,” he said. “Those who come in really unwell (with asthma) often have to be treated in intensive care to get their breathing under control.” Barwon Heath data shows 471 people sought urgent help for asthma attacks at the hospital during the 2016/17 financial year: 40 more than the previous year. In November last year, the state experienced a horror outbreak of thunderstorm asthma that left nine people dead and thousands struggling to breathe. The potent combination of pollen and weather conditions seen in thunderstorm asthma are most likely to occur in October and November. Geelong was particularly affected with the public hospital’s emergency department hit with an unprecedented 108 asthma cases in just six hours. Staff said they’d normally treat a total of 200 patients across an entire day. The following day the public hospital treated 60 asthma-related presentations, with 34 of those admitted to a ward, including two to inten- sive care. But it wasn’t the first time asthma-related illness shocked Geelong. In 2012 the community mourned the tragic loss of schoolboys Dylan Foster, 11, and David Markov, 14, after they died from asthma-induced respiratory failure.
Paediatrician and director of child services at Barwon Health, Dr Chris Cooper, said each year in Geelong people died as a result of breathing complications.
“Most people’s asthma is managed by their GP but we’re pretty consistent right through the year here with hospital admissions,” Dr Cooper said.
“Asthma is the most common reason for admission to the ward for children at the hospital and we see all sorts of severities, and if they’re particularly sick they can end up in intensive care, which happens quite frequently.
“These admissions tend to fluctuate according to the levels of virus in the community; they come in waves but right at this time we’ve had an amazing number of kids in the last week admitted due to influenza.”
Dr Cooper said his main message to the community was for those with mild, moderate or chronic asthma to all have adequate asthma management plans in place.
Schools and daycare staff needed to be trained in asthma management and be vigilant, so very young children were treated appropriately.
People with asthma should take every precaution to prevent, and manage, asthma attacks, Dr Cooper said.
Barwon acting group manager for Ambulance Victoria, Duncan Erwin, said anyone who experienced shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness or ongoing coughing should consult a GP.
For more information see your doctor, contact the Asthma Foundation on 1800 ASTHMA or visit asthmaaustralia.org.au.