Parents need to be on high alert for signs their child's asthma is worsening before an attack strikes, Asthma UK said.
Most recent figured collected by the charity show a 174 per cent increase in hospital admissions for asthma in September compared to the previous month.
Every year around 2,500 children are admitted to hospital having suffered an asthma attack when they returned to school.
Last month Asthma UK and the Royal College of Nurses urged parents to make sure their kids were regularly taking their preventative medicine in the lead up to school holidays ending to reduce the risk of potentially deadly attacks when they go back to school.
A lack of routine use during school holidays puts kids at greater risk of a life-threatening asthma attack, because their symptoms are not being managed with preventative medicine.
On top of that, kids returning to school are more likely to be exposed to triggers like the cold and flu viruses, new germs and dust from a different environment.
Some 1.1million children in the UK suffer from the condition and it's vital their parents know the warning signs of an asthma attack.
"Parents should not feel afraid to book an urgent appointment with the GP or asthma nurse if their child is using their reliever inhaler (usually blue) three or more times a week, coughing or wheezing at night or feeling out of breath and struggling to keep up with their friends."
Watching their child suffer an asthma attack is a horror Rich Cook, from South Wales, knows too well.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR CHILD'S SYMPTOMS GET WORSE?
- Give two to four puffs of their reliever inhaler, through a spacer. Space the puffs out so there are 30-60 seconds between them. If their symptoms don’t get better or if their reliever inhaler isn’t lasting four hours, follow the asthma attack advice below.
- Make a same-day appointment with your child's GP
- If the surgery is closed, call 111 for advice
- If you have any questions, call one of Asthma UK's nurses for advice on 0300 222 5800 (Mon – Fri; 9am – 5pm)
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING AN ASTHMA ATTACK
- While you wait for the ambulance, help them sit up and give a puff of their reliever inhaler every 30-60 seconds – you can give them up to 10 puffs
- You can repeat step 1 every 15 minutes while you are waiting for the ambulance
"Harry’s asthma attack came on so suddenly as when I dropped him off at school he was his normal happy self. The next time I saw him he was in hospital fighting for his life.
"Harry now takes his preventer medication daily, which has kept him out of hospital.
"I want to urge other parents to get support and advice from Asthma UK, especially at this time of the year when children are at more risk of an asthma attack. It could be a case of life and death."
The warning signs you need to know…
If your child is at risk of an asthma attack you will notice a few signs in the time before it strikes:
- Puffing on their reliever inhaler three or more times per week
- Coughing and/or wheezing at night or in the early mornings
- Breathlessness – if they’re pausing for breath when talking or struggling to keep up with friends
- They might say their tummy or chest hurts
If your child has any of these symptoms you should take them to see a GP straight away.
It's also a good idea to get an asthma action plan written up, so your doctor can manage the condition with the right medications and treatment plans.
Make sure the teacher knows your child has asthma and what to do in the situation they suffer an asthma attack.
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