Warning about asthma spike

Schools are being warned about the potential for a spike in asthma cases when children return after the holiday break.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has issued the warning, saying studies showed viral infections were likely to be the main cause in the possible jump in asthma hospitalisations.

‘‘Asthma attacks are particularly common for children when going back to school, especially following the long summer holiday,’’ the foundation’s education and research general manager Teresa Demetriou said.

Other causes included less strict asthma management over the holidays, environmental changes that created greater exposure to allergens and changes in emotions, such as stress and anxiety.

Demetriou urged parents to take preventative measures.

‘‘The best thing to do is be as prepared as possible.’’

In 2013, there were 3730 hospitalisations for children in New Zealand under 15 years old.

Some of these would be potentially life-threatening, Demetriou said.

‘‘Asthma action plans need to be provided to schools, along with updated emergency contact details. Children need to be taking their preventer medication as prescribed if they have one, and bring their reliever inhaler to school.’’

She said it was important children knew what their triggers were so they could do their best to avoid them.

Palmerston North mother Jackie Hartley’s son Mayim, 10, has chronic lung disease and she reiterated the need to be prepared.

‘‘Having a support network is really important.’’

Mayim went into a 24-hour coma last year after experiencing one of the worst asthma attacks Palmerston North Hospital staff had ever seen.

‘‘Mayim’s family, friends and teachers know what he’s like and keep an eye on him.

‘‘They know what symptoms to look out for and when to get help,’’ Hartley said.

Ross Intermediate School principal Wayne Jenkins said staff made sure they knew about their pupils’ medical conditions and had health plans in place.

Staff were also made aware of the pupils who might need help.

Jenkins said most of their pupils were able to monitor themselves and knew when they needed their inhalers.

Hokowhitu School principal Lin Dixon said parents left asthma inhalers at the front office and younger children could come use them during the day.

Staff kept a record of how often a child needed them and relayed that to parents.

Most of their older pupils were capable of monitoring themselves.

More than 460,000 people take medication for asthma − one in nine adults and one in seven children

Maori and Pacific people and those living in the most deprived areas were the most commonly admitted to hospital for asthma, according to the foundation.