Charity warns of back to school asthma spike

• The number of Scottish children being hospitalised for asthma attacks more than doubles in September after starting the new school term.
• Asthma + Lung UK Scotland says lack of preventer medicine routine during the summer holidays and being exposed to an abundance of triggers, including colds and other viruses, could be the cause.
• The charity’s Asthma in School poster available so school staff know what the vital five lifesaving steps are if a pupil is having an asthma attack.

As the school holidays draw to a close, leading health charity, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland warns many children could be at risk of having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack after returning to the classroom.¹

With an estimated 71,000 children with asthma in Scotland, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland has revealed that over the past eight years, hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 19 in Scotland have spiked in August and September when children return to school, compared to July.^2,3

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland’s most recent data from 2023 shows there were 65 hospital admissions for school-aged children in July, 94 in August and 157 in September. In the last eight years, 1028 children have been hospitalised because of their asthma in August and September.³

Preventer inhaler routines can get disrupted over the holidays, so children's airways can be more sensitive to asthma triggers when they go back to school, with an abundance of sources causing attacks.

If you are a parent or carer of a child or teenager with asthma and are concerned about their return to school, you can help reduce their risk of an asthma attack by doing the following:

• As a priority, make sure they use their preventer inhaler daily, as prescribed, even when they feel well, as this helps to build up protection in their airways over time
• Check that your child's reliever inhaler (usually blue) is in their bag before leaving for school every day. It should be kept somewhere they can get to easily at any time, like during PE or if they are on a school trip
• Ask your doctor's surgery for an extra reliever inhaler and give it to your child's school or college. This should preferably be in its original packaging. Send in a spacer too, if your child uses one. It should always be easily accessible and not stored in a locked cupboard
• Arrange for your child to have an annual asthma review with their GP or asthma nurse. This will help pick up any early symptoms
• Have an asthma action plan – this tells the youngster and their school or college which medicines they take every day to prevent symptoms and cut their risk of an asthma attack and what to do if their symptoms are getting worse. This should be shared with their school, college, any carers, and medical professionals. You can download one from Asthma + Lung UK’s website here:https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/your-asthma-action-plan
• Make sure your child knows how to use their inhalers properly. You can arrange an inhaler technique check through your GP or asthma nurse and some pharmacies also provide this service. Asthma + Lung UK has a guide here:www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/inhaler-videos
• If a child is having an asthma attack and their symptoms are not improving with a reliever inhaler, call 999 and follow our asthma attack advice for children at www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/child/asthma-attacks.

For schools, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland would also encourage staff to download the charity’s free Asthma at School poster from the charity’s website, so staff know what the vital five lifesaving steps are if a pupil is having an asthma attack.

Scottish Government Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:

“Asthma affects many people in Scotland and this campaign to raise awareness about what to do if a child is affected is vitally important.

“Many people might not recognise the warning signs or know what to do if someone is suffering from an asthma attack. Having an attack, or even witnessing one, can be upsetting and knowing what to do can help save a life.

“Education authorities, health boards and schools have received Scottish Government guidance about the use of salbutamol inhalers to treat an attack.”

Eileen Fitzpatrick from Stirling has two sons Ronan and Saul who have asthma, they were diagnosed when they were 4 and 5 and have been hospitalised over the years.

“Both my sons have asthma, so they always take their preventer inhalers and have his reliver inhaler with them at all times, Saul also has injections too. As they get older, they become more independent, but we are always acutely aware that they could be hospitalised because of their asthma at any time especially at this time of year because of the pollen and in autumn because of the change in weather and the increased chances of picking up a virus.

“It’s always an extra worry when they go back to school, as it is for any parent with a child with asthma. The dust and winter bugs circulating can put them at higher risk of an asthma attack, so I very much welcome any messaging to help parents be more aware of the triggers when the new term starts.”

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said:

“With children across most parts of Scotland due to return to school, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is urging parents to look out for signs that their child’s asthma may be worsening. This could be breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and advises them to take urgent action.

“We already know that when children go back to school after the summer holidays, we often see an increase in the number of asthma attacks, which leads to more visits to hospitals. Being exposed to more colds and other viruses or dust mites in a school setting, or seasonal allergies such as mold, could be to blame.

“Over the summer break, usual preventer inhaler routines could have been less adhered to, which can leave children much more vulnerable to an asthma attack when they return to school and are around more triggers.

“We’d also like to really encourage all schools to download our free Asthma at School poster, so they are prepared for the new term and know what to do if a pupil does have an asthma attack.”

If you are concerned about your child’s asthma, please call Asthma + Lung UK’s helpline, which is run with thanks to funds raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The number to call is 0300 222 5800. You can also access the charity’s virtual Parent and Carer Support Network, which is designed to help parents deal with their children’s asthma and other lung conditions, on www.asthmaandlung.org.uk.

ENDS

To download the Asthma at School campaign poster to know what the vital five lifesaving steps are go to: Asthma at School campaign poster – Asthma + Lung UK (asthmaandlung.org.uk)

References:

1. 80% of people in Scotland find their asthma is triggered by colds and flu (665 out of 829) Asthma + Lung UK Life with a Lung Condition Survey 2024.

2. Estimated number of children with asthma in Scotland: Scottish Health Survey.

3. Hospital admissions for asthma in children aged 5-19 years. From Public Health Scotland (data 2016-2023 inclusive).