For 12 per cent of Canadian children between the ages of four and 11 who are affected by asthma, the end of summer not only means a new school year but also the start of September Peak.
Peak hospitalization periods for children with asthma co-incide with the beginning of the school year. In fact, about one quarter of all hospital admissions for asthmatic children happen in September.
At the start of each new school year, there is a significant spike in children’s hospital admissions due to serious asthma attacks aggravated by colds. Children have a tendency to share everything, such as pencils or crayons, further exposing them to viruses like the common cold. For children with asthma, a cold is often much more than a stuffy nose and sore throat. In fact, colds are the most frequent asthma trigger in young children, causing 80 to 85 per cent of asthma outbreaks.
It is perfectly normal for kids to get a cold from time to time, but if your child experiences increased asthma symptoms or attacks when sniffles set in, you may want to investigate the cause. Current medications may not be controlling the inflammation effectively.
Ensure that you and your child are well prepared by discussing with your family physician what can be done to minimize the risks associated with the September peak period. Additional information is available online from the Asthma Society of Canada at www.asthma.ca or by calling toll-free 1-866-787-4050.