Bronchial asthma and school: preparing a child for learning

Among children of preschool age, asthma has long ceased to be considered a rare pathology. Along with many other manifestations of allergy, it can occur even in a child aged 3-5 years. However, after the start of schooling, the course of asthma can worsen, more often there are attacks of shortness of breath, episodes of shortness of breath and agonizing cough, which is associated with many factors. Therefore, preliminary preparation for the start of school education is important, which needs to be started now, although there is still plenty of time until autumn.

Bronchial asthma: a serious problem for children

According to experts, asthma is one of the most common diseases of the respiratory tract in children. It affects, by some estimates, up to 5% of children under the age of 15 years. Children with asthma have chronic inflammation, swelling of the mucous membranes and excessive sensitivity of the respiratory tract, leading to episodes of shortness of breath. Although today there is no reliably effective treatment of bronchial asthma that would completely eliminate all manifestations, it can be effectively controlled. When   bronchial asthma is under good control, inflammation and airway obstruction are reduced, breathing returns to normal. Since the child spends most of his day at school, it is important that the teachers and medical staff of the school have an idea of ​​the child’s illness and can help in case of a coughing fit or the formation of severe shortness of breath. If a child learns how to fully manage the disease, it will allow him to go to school on an equal basis with other children.

What worsens asthma: exacerbation of allergies

Triggers (provocateurs) of asthma are those influences that worsen the course of bronchial asthma immediately, immediately or slowly over time. Not every child has asthma associated with allergies, there are other triggers. If it is an allergy, you should avoid contact with allergens that provoke attacks of cough or severe shortness of breath, they should be controlled in the school environment. Major triggers that can aggravate asthma include physical stimuli (for example, smoke and hot dry air), allergens (for example, animal dander, grass and tree pollen), exercise, infections, weather changes, and emotions.

Symptoms of asthma: cough and breathing disorders

Early signs and symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, or increased respiration, are signs that a child has an asthma attack. Monitoring external signs and symptoms of asthma, controlling cough is very important for managing asthma in school. Signs and symptoms are the sensations that the child himself feels or that adults may notice when asthma worsens, and airway obstruction occurs. Common symptoms that require attention include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

Breathing monitoring: peak fluometry

In addition to observing the symptoms of asthma,   child   with school-age asthma, you can monitor your breathing at school with a picfluometer . This portable instrument measures the flow of air during forced expiration in liters per minute. Monitoring peak flow can help determine the onset of an asthma attack, often before the onset of symptoms in a child. To evaluate the breath, the results are distributed according to the colors of the traffic light. They can help the child and school professionals make decisions about the use of drugs and ease breathing.

Asthma drugs for a child in school

All the medicines that a child takes to treat asthma are divided into two groups: long-acting drugs and fast-acting drugs. Some fast-acting drugs (usually those delivered with an inhaler) act quickly, they are aimed at relaxing the muscles around the respiratory tract. They are used to relieve asthma symptoms, due to them wheezing and shortness of breath are eliminated, cough is suppressed.

Long-acting drugs, which are usually taken by mouth (tablets, solutions) or inhalation , are used daily to maintain asthma control and prevent severe asthma symptoms. Drugs for long-term control can be inhaled (using an inhaler or nebulizer) or taken in pill form. Most children use a combination of long-term control and a fast-acting medication for the most effective treatment of asthma. Sometimes a child uses a spacer , an additional camera that attaches to an inhaler for more accurate dosage of medications that are delivered to the airways.

The child and the school staff should know   what medications   and when you need to take while you are in school. The assignment and recommendation sheet should be available from the school health worker.

Can a child go to school or play sports?

Exercise is a common trigger for asthma attacks. But a child with asthma can do physical therapy and exercise at school under the supervision of a teacher. To do this, however, it is important to discuss the level of activity with the child’s doctor and make a written plan to prevent problems.For some children, it is good practice to use an inhaler before exercise to avoid breathing difficulties. It is also important to make a plan of action if the child has problems after school. Do not hesitate to call or send a note to a physical education teacher.

The following actions may help your child do physical exercise along with other children. It is important to make sure that the child took a dose of the drug before classes in the hall or other physical activities, especially outside in cold weather. In warm weather, when there is a lot of pollen in the air, exercise in the open air can aggravate both asthma and allergies. Advance treatment with antihistamines and intranasal steroids can significantly reduce these symptoms.

It is important to choose the right classes. Actions accompanied by short periods of rest may allow the child to regain control of his breathing. Activities such as baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, downhill skiing, golf, as well as some athletics competitions, all have short rest periods. Sports that require constant, moderate activity, such as swimming, cycling, long-distance running and football, can also be suitable for children with asthma.

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