Is your child with asthma prepared in school? Have you gotten an inhaler for the nurse’s office? Is there a doctor’s order for the inhaler to be administered during school? Did you get an Asthma Action Plan for your child from his/her primary care provider? Have you made an appointment for your child with asthma to get a flu shot?
Asthma is one of the most common childhood diseases. Each year, approximately 4 million children with asthma have a breathing emergency. A breathing emergency can lead to hospitalization or even death.
Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the lungs, resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways. Certain triggers can cause an asthma attack. Triggers can include exercise, stress, infections and allergies such as pollens, foods, dust mites, and animals. As a parent you should know what triggers your child’s asthma. You should also notify the school nurse about what triggers your child’s asthma. Avoiding triggers can help prevent an asthma attack.
It is important to keep your child’s asthma in good control. One way of managing your child’s asthma is to obtain an Asthma Action Plan from your child’s primary care provider. The primary care provider will prescribe the Asthma Action Plan according to the severity of your child’s asthma and by what triggers your child’s asthma. The Asthma Action Plan is also useful for the school nurse to manage your child’s asthma at school.
The Asthma Action Plan is divided into three zones: green, yellow and red.
- The Green Zone: The green zone is when the asthma is in good control. Breathing is good, there is no cough or wheeze and they are sleeping through the night. Some children may have to take daily controller medications when they are in the green zone. A controller medication such as Advair is an inhaled steroid that decreases inflammation of the lungs. Other children may not need a controller medication but may need to take a rescue inhaler 20 minutes before gym class since exercise can trigger an asthma attack. Children with allergies may have to take allergy medication when they are in the green zone so that allergies do not trigger an asthma attack.
- The Yellow Zone: Coughing during the night, a tight chest and slight wheezing occurs when a child is in the yellow zone. A child will have to do what is prescribed by the primary care provider in the green zone and may have to take their rescue inhaler in the yellow zone. If a child does not get any relief from their rescue inhaler in 15-20 minutes, the child should be taken to the emergency room. If the child uses their rescue inhaler more than twice a week or if symptoms persist, then the primary care provider should be notified.
- The Red Zone: The child is in acute distress when they are in the red zone. Breathing is hard or fast, the child has trouble talking and lips are blue. 9-1-1 should be called.
Once an Asthma Action Plan is prescribed by your child’s primary caregiver make sure you keep a copy for your own files, as well as provide one to the school nurse. If the Asthma Action Plan is current it may also be the doctor’s order for administering the rescue inhaler at school. You also need to provide an inhaler for school if your child needs to take his inhaler at school before gym, with cold symptoms or as a rescue inhaler.
The school nurse should also be notified throughout the school year if your child’s asthma worsens, and make sure your emergency contact information is updated as needed in case the nurse or school personnel need to get in touch with you.
Most health care providers recommend that children with asthma receive an annual flu shot to prevent complications from the flu. Teach your child to wash his/her hands and avoid touching his/her eyes, nose, and mouth so there will be less chance of picking up germs during the school year that could cause worsening of asthma symptoms.
Also take some time to share with the school nurse how your child manages his/her asthma. Some topics to consider are: Does your child know how to use his/her inhaler? Is he/she aware of what triggers his asthma? Proper asthma management both at home and at school will help your child to have a healthier school year.
For more information go online to cdc.gov.