Asthma and school
Description
Children with asthma may need extra support at school. They may need help from school staff to keep their asthma under control and to be able to do school activities.
You should give your child's school staff an asthma action plan that tells them how to take care of your child's asthma. Ask your child's health care provider to write one.
The student and school staff should follow this asthma action plan. Your child should be able to take asthma medicines at school when needed.
School staff should know what things make your child's asthma worse. These are called triggers. Your child should be able to go to another location to get away from asthma triggers, if needed.
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Alternative Names
Asthma action plan - school; Wheezing - school; Reactive airway disease - school; Bronchial asthma - school
What Should be in Your Child's School Asthma Action Plan?
Your child's school asthma action plan should include:
- Phone numbers or email address of your child's provider, nurse, parents, and guardians
- A brief history of your child's asthma
- Asthma symptoms to watch for
- Your child's personal best peak flow reading
- What to do to make sure your child can be as active as possible during recess and physical education class
Include a list of triggers that make your child's asthma worse, such as:
- Cockroaches
- Dust
- Grass and weeds
- Rooms that are moldy or damp
- Smells from chemicals and cleaning products
- Smoke
- Food allergies
Provide details about your child's asthma medicines and how to take them, including:
- Daily medicines to control your child's asthma
- Quick-relief medicines to control asthma symptoms
Lastly, your child's provider and parent or guardian's signatures should be on the action plan as well.
Who Should Have a Copy of Your Child's School Asthma Action Plan?
These staff should each have a copy of your child's asthma action plan:
- Your child's teacher
- School nurse
- School office
- Gym teachers and coaches
References
Jackson DJ, Lemanske RF, Bacharier LB. Management of asthma in infants and children. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 50.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Asthma Management Guidelines: Focused Updates 2020. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma-management-guidelines-2020-updates. Updated February 4, 2021. Accessed February 8, 2024.
Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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