Do the Right Thing for your Child with Asthma

9 February 2011

Especially with schools going back recently, parents of children with asthma should ensure that their child’s condition is well managed, advises the Asthma Foundation.

“Children will be mixing with others on a large scale again, can pick up viruses for example, and their asthma may not have been managed well over the summer break,” says education services manager, Robyn Ingleton.

Figures released by the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain last year showed hospital admissions for asthma among children were 58 per cent higher when school went back for the start of their 2009/2010 school year than in an average month.

“We are dealing with an additional vulnerability at the moment and we strongly advise parents to do the right thing and make sure their children who have asthma are using their preventer medication as required, have an asthma management plan, are vaccinated against influenza [vaccines are scheduled to be in doctor’s surgeries in early March] and are generally looked after. “

If parents have any questions they should talk with their GP as soon as possible or contact their nearest Asthma Society.

The Asthma Foundation is working hard to reduce the risk to children’s lives and wellbeing and the pressure on our hospital beds that asthma hospitalisations cause. Asthma is the leading reason for children and young people being hospitalised in Aotearoa and about half a million school days are lost to asthma each year.

Asthma management plans and Asthma Society contact details are available on the Asthma Foundation website at www.asthmafoundation.org.nz.

ENDS

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