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· 4 minutes read

Back to school: Tips for keeping asthma under control

Having an asthma plan for the back-to-school year can help keep asthma flare-ups at bay and keep children healthy, happy, and engaged during the school year.
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Asthma is one of the leading causes of missed school days. As children head back to school, it’s critical to understand asthma in school-aged children and the steps to take for monitoring and preventing asthma flare-ups.

Asthma facts

Asthma flare-ups in children often occur when a child faces exposure to certain triggers. Triggers vary between children but include viral infections, stress, exercise, mold, smoke, dust, and other particles in the air. With exposure to the trigger, the body reacts with swelling and muscle tightening around the airways and increasing mucus production. As the airways narrow, wheezing occurs (which sounds like a high-pitched whistle) and breathing becomes difficult.

Uncontrolled asthma with frequent severe asthma attacks comes with a high cost to families because of increased risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and missed work and school days. Between 2008 and 2013, the annual cost of asthma was $81.9 billion, including medical bills and missed work and school days. However, controlled asthma has virtually no impact on everyday life.

How does asthma affect school-aged children?

Children with uncontrolled asthma are less likely to do well in school. Research shows that educational attainment is worse among children hospitalized with asthma when compared to their peers, and school absences play a role. Across the United States alone, childhood asthma makes up about 14 million school absences yearly. An asthma diagnosis for children in low-income families nearly doubles the risk of failing a grade.

Fortunately, early interventions and plans for managing asthma symptoms can improve educational performance in children with asthma.

What can be done?

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) offers guidelines to diagnose and manage asthma and prevent asthma attacks.

Keeping asthma under control

Poorly controlled asthma can cause hospitalizations and missed school days. Fortunately, children can remain healthy and avoid the hospital with the right tools, including an asthma control plan and routine spirometry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical statements come from these sources:

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/asthma-children-facts-sheet

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/asthma.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthma_stats/uncontrolled-asthma-children.htm

https://www.aafa.org/asthma-facts/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cea.14022

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0701/p169.html


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