Children with asthma in Scotland returning to school are at increased risk of asthma attacks

The number of Scottish children being hospitalised for asthma attacks in August more than doubles when they start the new term.

Released on 12th August 2022

The number of Scottish children being hospitalised for asthma attacks in August more than doubles when they start the new term compared to the previous month according to Asthma + Lung UK Scotland

Charity says lack of preventer medicine routine during the summer holidays and an abundance of new-term colds, viruses and flus could be the cause 

Thousands of children in Scotland could be at risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack when they return to school after the summer holidays, according to new analysis by Asthma + Lung UK Scotland.1

Changes in routine over the summer holidays mean children may forget to take their preventer medicine, leaving them more exposed to asthma triggers like cold and flu viruses according to the charity. Nine in ten children with asthma in the UK find colds and flu trigger their symptoms.2

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland has revealed that over the past 6 years, hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 14, more than doubled in August when children returned to school, compared to July.3 

The number of children being hospitalised for their asthma when they return to school could be a fraction of the number that have had potentially life-threatening asthma attacks, as many do not get hospital treatment.

Asthma attacks are a medical emergency and can be life-threatening. But despite this, almost half (46%) of children under 18 in the UK who have an asthma attack don’t go to hospital but manage it themselves with their parent’s help, with some seeing their GP afterwards.4

We would urge any parent who has managed their child asthma attack with their blue reliver inhalers, and their symptoms have improved, to get an urgent same day doctor’s appointment.

Asthma and Lung UK Scotland advises that if a child is having an asthma attack, help them to sit up – don’t let them lie down. Try to keep them calm and help them take one puff of their reliever inhaler (with their spacer, if they have it) every 30 to 60 seconds, up to a total of 10 puffs. If they don’t have their reliever inhaler, or it’s not helping, or if you are worried at any time, call 999 for an ambulance. If the ambulance has not arrived after 10 minutes and their symptoms are not improving, repeat step 2. If their symptoms are no better after repeating step 2, and the ambulance has still not arrived, contact 999 again immediately.

More than 71,000 children have asthma in Scotland5. In 2021, 96 Scots died because of asthma 6.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, who provided nurse support through its telephone helpline and WhatsApp messaging service to more than 918 UK parents of children with asthma in the last 12 months,7 is now urging parents of children with asthma in Scotland to be on high alert to spot the warning signs of an asthma attack.

The following are signs that children are at risk of having an asthma attack:

  • Coughing and/or wheezing a lot
  • Finding it hard to breathe and/or breathing more quickly
  • They say their chest or tummy hurts
  • Being unable to walk or eat or being unusually quiet
  • Saying their blue inhaler isn’t helping, or they need it more than every four hours

Natalie Homer is a Senior Research Technologist living in Edinburgh. Her son Isaac was 4 when he started to develop night-time coughing and was prescribed preventer and reliever inhalers. She said:

“Seeing your child in hospital because they are gasping for breath is every mum’s nightmare and that’s what I had to face when my son had an asthma attack when he returned to school in Autumn 2015.

“I always thought it was more important that Isaac take his inhaler when he had asthma symptoms but when he had a massive asthma attack and ended up in hospital, my doctor explained that I needed to make sure he took his preventer inhaler every day as that could prevent an asthma attack in the first place.

“With all the fun of summer, it can be easy to fall out of the routine of taking medicine but when the children return to school and winter bugs start circulating, it ca put them at risk of an asthma attack. Now I want to warn other parents to help their children with asthma stay safe when they go back to school.”

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

“Children in Scotland should be enjoying being back in the classrooms after the long summer break, playing with their friends and meeting their new teachers, not fighting for breath because of an asthma attack.

“Children are less likely to have an asthma attack if they use their preventer inhaler which builds up protection in their airways so over time if they come into contact with triggers such as cold and flu bugs, they’ll have more protection. Adults also need to have a reliver inhaler to hand, a school asthma card, know how to spot when their child’s asthma is getting worse and know what to do if they have an attack.

“If your child is coughing and wheezing a lot, finding it hard to breathe or breathing more quickly, saying their tummy or chest hurts, being unable to walk, eat or being unusually quiet, this could be a sign your child is at risk of having an asthma attack. Also, if they say their blue inhaler isn’t helping or they need it more than every four hours.

“If parents notice any of these symptoms, they should give their child two to four puffs of their reliever inhaler, through a spacer - waiting 30-60 seconds between each puff. If their symptoms don’t improve, or if their reliever inhaler isn’t lasting four hours, parents should make a same-day appointment with their GP. If the surgery is closed, they should call 111 for advice.”

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland has provided the following top tips to help parents protect their children from asthma attacks this autumn:

  1. Make sure your child is taking their preventer inhaler as prescribed to calm irritated airways; and that they carry their reliever inhaler at all times for on-the-spot relief if they get symptoms or have access to an emergency school reliver inhaler.
  2. Arrange an appointment with your GP or asthma nurse to make sure your child’s written asthma action planis up to date. Your doctor or nurse can check your child’s asthma and adjust their prescription to make sure they are getting the most from their medicine.
  3. Contact Asthma and Lung UK’s Helpline on 0300 222 5800(Mon – Fri; 9am – 5pm) to speak to a friendly nurse about how to manage your child’s asthma and how to talk to their school about their asthma. More info: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/

For more information on how children with asthma can stay well when they return to school visit: Avoid back to school asthma attacks | Asthma + Lung U

 References:

  1. More than 71,000 children in Scotland have asthma. In autumn, children in the UK with asthma are exposed to top triggers including colds and flu (see next reference) and evidence shows they are more likely to be hospitalised for an asthma attack when they return to school.
  2. Falling through the gaps: why more people need basic asthma care. Annual Asthma Survey 2017. We surveyed 7,611 people with asthma across the UK. 87% of children found colds and flu triggered their asthma.
  3. In July 2021, 21 children in Scotland were hospitalised with asthma. This rose to 47 in August. From Public Health Scotland (data 2016-2021 inclusive)
  4. The reality of asthma care in the UK: Annual Asthma Survey 2018. Asthma UK surveyed 10,064 people with asthma to ask what treatment they get if they have an asthma attack. 46% of parents who have children with asthma under 18 said they self-managed their asthma attack and didn’t go to hospital.
  5. See reference 1
  6. 96 people in Scotland died due to asthma in 2021.
  7. Asthma UK has a Helpline and a WhatsApp messaging service, staffed by nurses, where people with asthma, parents and carers can get advice and support.