Wellbeing

PRISM dates for your diary

November 14 & 28

December 5

Stay Well this Summer

FACTS ON ASTHMA (the invisible illness)

Asthma affects up to one in nine children and one in ten adults. It is important for parents/carers to inform school staff of children with asthma.

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways of the lungs. In a person with asthma, the airways are more sensitive than normal. When they are exposed to a ‘trigger’ they overreact and narrow, resulting in an asthma attack. The narrowing is caused by:

• constriction of the muscle in the walls of the airways
• swelling of the lining layer of the airways
• excessive production of mucus in the airways.

A variety of triggers may lead to an asthma attack (for example, colds/flu, exercise, pollens, dust, dust mite, temperature change or smoke) and these triggers vary from person to person.

Symptoms of asthma commonly include:

• Difficulty in breathing or breathlessness
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest
• Cough

Many children and adolescents have mild infrequent asthma with very occasional attacks. They require medication only during attacks. However, students with frequent episodic and persistent asthma need medication on a daily basis and frequently require additional medication at school (particularly before or after exercise). Most students with moderate to severe asthma can have their asthma controlled by taking regular medication.

*It is important to remember that anyone with asthma can have a severe attack, even people with mild asthma.

You can download an asthma plan on our website.