A mum has issued a warning as children return back to school. As children return to school and the months get colder, seasonal illnesses start to return, and this can have a big impact on some children. While coughs and colds can be minor for some, other children are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill. This along with a new routine has left mum Branwen Niclas urging parents to take great care this autumn, and to watch out for signs that your child needs extra help.
Branwen’s eight-year-old son Huw has asthma. He was first hospitalised with symptoms of the condition in 2022 as he struggled to breathe due to a chest infection. Branwen warned against the seriousness of the condition, recalling an asthma attack he experienced when he was just six, which took him over a week to recover from. According to Asthma + Lunk UK Cymru charity, hospital admissions for children aged between five and 19 in Wales almost triple in September when children return to school, compared with August.
The charity highlighted the increased risk due to a combination of factors that occur when children go back to school. Some children may have been out of routine during the summer holidays, not taking their preventer medicines daily as prescribed, leading to poorly controlled asthma when they return to school. Exposure to asthma triggers like colds, flu viruses, dust mites, pollen, and strong emotions can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks or worsen symptoms.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, emphasized the importance of children taking their preventer inhalers daily as prescribed and maintaining their care and treatment plans during the holidays. He advised ensuring children have their reliever inhaler at school and sharing an asthma action plan with the school in case symptoms worsen. The organisation stressed the significance of children adhering to their preventive medication to reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
Branwen urged parents to be aware of asthma symptoms and to ensure their children take their inhalers as prescribed when they return to school. With an estimated 59,000 children with asthma in Wales, parents play a crucial role in managing their children’s condition to prevent exacerbations and hospitalisations. As autumn approaches and children settle back into school routines, vigilance in managing asthma becomes paramount to safeguard children’s health during this challenging period.