SATURDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- With the start of school
here, the American Lung Association is advising parents of children
with asthma to follow a simple checklist to ensure this sometimes
debilitating disease doesn't hinder their child's academic
year.
Almost 11 percent of school-age children have asthma. Annually,
these students miss some 13 million days in the classroom because
of asthma, making it one of the most common reasons kids are absent
from school.
The American Lung Association also urges parents who have
children with asthma to:
- Schedule an asthma check-up: Even if your child's condition
is well controlled, meeting with your pediatrician is also an
opportunity to evaluate medications and physical activity
restrictions.
- Confirm medicines are up-to-date and fill prescriptions: If
your child uses an inhaler, ensure you have a current
prescription for the new HFA inhaler (the old CFC inhalers will
now longer be available after Dec. 31, 2008). Ensure your child's
asthma prescriptions have sufficient refills available and have
not expired.
- Know about prescription assistance services: Two
organizations can help if you have issues affording your child's
asthma medication. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance
can be reached at 1-888-4PPA-NOW. Rx Outreach provides online
help at www.rxoutreach.com.
- Have an asthma action plan: An asthma action plan details
personal information about the child's asthma symptoms,
medications, any physical activity limitations, and provides
specific instructions about what to do if an asthma attack does
not improve with prescribed medication. Provide this to all your
student's teachers, coaches, the school nurse, and the front
office administrators.
- Meet with your child's school nurse and teachers: Discuss
with your child's teachers specific triggers and typical
symptoms. Learn if the school allows students to carry and
independently administer their asthma medication. Learn what
steps need to be taken to have your child carry and use his or
her inhaler if recommended by a doctor.
- Know your schools asthma emergency plan: Ensure that your
child's school knows how to contact you in case of an emergency.
You should also know the school's past history of dealing with
asthma episodes. Confirm that school staffers -- including
after-school coaches and bus drivers -- have been trained to
respond to asthma emergencies.
More information
The American Lung Association has more about
asthma in children.
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