Typical asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Asthma triggers can make asthma suddenly flare up in the school environment and when the child is out at recess or gym class. For example, children who have exercise-induced asthma, may develop symptoms when they run. Other triggers include allergens that children are commonly exposed to. These allergens include dust mites, animal dander (cat and dog), tree pollen, grass pollen and mold spores. Mold spores and dust mites along with pet dander are allergens that are present all year round. However during the fall, we need to be on the lookout for ragweed and other weeds, which can cause asthma exacerbations. Ragweed is a trigger present from August through to the first frost.
Sending a child off to school can be stressful for any parent. Many times it involves buying school supplies and updating wardrobes for the fall. However, for parents of asthmatic children the back to school season can be filled with anxiety. The responsibility of care for their child is transferred from them to school employees. Some children experience asthma that if not properly managed can be life threatening. There are strategies that can be used to insure your child's safety at school and avoidance of emergency room visits. The following suggestions for effective communication with school personnel about the special needs and limitations involving the student, will help to provide teachers, nurses and school administrators, the knowledge necessary to help the child remain healthy and active. This will help with their overall wellness and ability to achieve.
Typical asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Asthma triggers can make asthma suddenly flare up in the school environment and when the child is out at recess or gym class. For example, children who have exercise-induced asthma, may develop symptoms when they run. Other triggers include allergens that children are commonly exposed to. These allergens include dust mites, animal dander (cat and dog), tree pollen, grass pollen and mold spores. Mold spores and dust mites along with pet dander are allergens that are present all year round. However during the fall, we need to be on the lookout for ragweed and other weeds, which can cause asthma exacerbations. Ragweed is a trigger present from August through to the first frost.
One of the biggest challenges that school administrator's, teachers and nurses have is understanding the medical terms used when treating asthma. Each child is very different and requires a different treatment approach. These strategies need to be discussed with the school nurse and the child's teacher. It is hard for school administrator's to deal with each individual students needs when they have a room full of children. Usually a fourth of the children in a classroom have asthma, a number of food allergies or both. Keeping all of this straight is a big challenge for the school system. Many times teachers and school administrator's don't understand the terminology such as rescue medicine or controller medicine. Setting up a time with your child's teacher to discuss their particular asthma symptoms, when rescue medication is needed, and ongoing medical requirements can be helpful. Also, it would be good to discuss with the teacher what particular triggers cause your child to have difficulty. If needed, explaining asthma medical terminology to the teachers will help them understand how to deal with him or her in an emergency or identify if they are sick before an emergency occurs. A proactive approach to ensuring your child is properly cared for at school can help you with peace of mind.
Stay tuned for the next news letter in which we will discuss how to develop an asthma action plan which can be helpful when caring for a sick child with asthma. |
