Preparing for school with asthma: Bypassing the September Epidemic
We only have one and a half weeks before the kids go back to school. School has already resumed in some communities. I'm sad that the boys are going back. Not only does it mean that the care free days of summer are essentially over for us but it also means that the stress of dealing with a child with food allergies and asthma back at school flares up again (flares... yes the "pun" was intended).
I was reading an article on the National Jewish web-page titled the September Epidemic. It seems that emergency room visits for asthmatic children spike during the month of September due to the incidence of respiratory infections. Basically, thanks to the common cold our children get ill and their asthma attacks increase and can become severe.
The article states that because of the close environment of the classroom that the children are now back into, these colds get easily passed around. The solution? Frequent and thorough hand washing. Children need to wash hands several times throughout the day, especially before eating and they need to "wash" hands for a period of time as long as it takes them to sing "Happy Birthday". I know my boys throw on some soap, run their hands under water for three seconds if their lucky and dab them on a towel to dry them off. We'll be working on perfecting our hand washing before their return to school.
Another reason the article states that our children with asthma are more likely to return to the ER during September is because a child's asthma is usually fairly under control during the summer months and parents have gotten lax about administering preventative asthma medication. Controller medications should be given per the doctors instructions and if need be, see your doctor for a review of all instructions and a renewed asthma action plan before the new school year starts.
The article states that because of the close environment of the classroom that the children are now back into, these colds get easily passed around. The solution? Frequent and thorough hand washing. Children need to wash hands several times throughout the day, especially before eating and they need to "wash" hands for a period of time as long as it takes them to sing "Happy Birthday". I know my boys throw on some soap, run their hands under water for three seconds if their lucky and dab them on a towel to dry them off. We'll be working on perfecting our hand washing before their return to school.
Another reason the article states that our children with asthma are more likely to return to the ER during September is because a child's asthma is usually fairly under control during the summer months and parents have gotten lax about administering preventative asthma medication. Controller medications should be given per the doctors instructions and if need be, see your doctor for a review of all instructions and a renewed asthma action plan before the new school year starts.
I have not heard of the "September Epidemic" before I found the National Jewish article today. But I have experienced it.
Have you heard of the September Epidemic? Does your asthmatic child experience more colds in September? My son is also a fall allergy sufferer. Do you think that fall allergies play a part in the September Epidemic too?
Have you heard of the September Epidemic? Does your asthmatic child experience more colds in September? My son is also a fall allergy sufferer. Do you think that fall allergies play a part in the September Epidemic too?
For more on the September Epidemic see:
The September epidemic of asthma exacerbations in children: a searc... from NIH
The September epidemic of asthma hospitalization: School children a... from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Going back to school action plan from National Jewish
Helping Kids with Asthma Prepare for School from American Lung Association
The September epidemic of asthma exacerbations in children: a searc... from NIH
The September epidemic of asthma hospitalization: School children a... from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Going back to school action plan from National Jewish
Helping Kids with Asthma Prepare for School from American Lung Association
Views: 4
Tags: September Epidemic, asthma, asthma action plan, back to school, controller medication, inhaled steroids, inhaler
Comment
© 2012 Created by Susan M..
You need to be a member of WEGO Health to add comments!
Join WEGO Health