Pennsylvania Schools Report Record Number of Students with Asthma

Harrisburg, PA—A record number of Pennsylvania school children added one more item to their backpacks this school year: an asthma diagnosis from their family physicians. With more children dealing with the daily complications of the illness, the Pennsylvania Medical Society cautions parents and school officials that winter weather and illnesses can trigger potentially deadly childhood asthma attacks.

Health officials have no clear answer why 40,000 more Pennsylvania elementary through high school students are diagnosed with asthma today than five years ago. To understand this and other aspects of the chronic illness, a panel of state health experts led by the Pennsylvania Department of Health will launch a three-year, federally funded effort in March to develop a statewide asthma plan and to create a surveillance system to track asthma rates in the commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Medical Society member physician and pulmonary specialist Richard T. Bell, MD, of Reading, says that the upcoming state effort will be invaluable in understanding why asthma rates are rising. “Clearly, asthma is on the increase, particularly for our state’s children,” says Dr. Bell. “Most likely, the increase is resulting from a combination of factors, which could include improvements in our ability to diagnose the chronic condition, an increase in public awareness, and environmental factors such as air pollution and second-hand smoke.”

Common triggers

With the recent bone-chilling winter weather, the Pennsylvania Medical Society cautions parents that children could be at increased risk of asthmatic attacks as a result of the extreme temperature changes and illnesses that are prevalent this time of year.

The following are some common triggers:

  • Physical activity: As running and other strenuous activity can bring on asthmatic attacks, parents should talk with their children’s doctors about physical activity pre-treatment programs. Asthma doesn’t need to limit a child’s involvement with any sport or physical activity.
  • Infections: Some children experience episodes as a result of colds, flu, or sinus infections. Asthma sufferers should take precautions to keep healthy during the winter cold and flu season, including getting plenty of rest and eating well-balanced diets.
  • Allergens: Indoor and outdoor allergens—including dust mites, molds, pet dander, and pollen—are common triggers. Exposure to wintertime allergens can be reduced by installing high-efficiency filters on furnaces, with regular vacuuming, and by keeping pets out of the bedrooms.
  • Irritants: Cigarette smoke, air pollution, strong odors, aerosol sprays, and paint fumes can irritate the tissues of the lungs and upper airways.
  • Cold weather: Many asthma sufferers identify cold air as a trigger, as it dries out the lungs and causes the muscles around airways to contract. In addition, windy conditions may stir up allergens.
  • Strong emotions: Emotional stress—such as excitement, laughter, and anxiety—sometimes triggers an attack.
More than 180,000 school-age children in PA have asthma

Although asthma affects all ages, the steepest US increases have occurred recently among the very young. During the past two decades, national asthma rates among children have risen dramatically—growing by 87 percent since 1982. Currently, an estimated 6.3 million children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with asthma.

According to data reported by school districts throughout Pennsylvania, the number of school-age children with a medical diagnosis of asthma has increased steadily over the past five years, from almost 138,000 students, or 6.6 percent of the student population during the 1997-98 school year, to more than 180,000, or 8.6 percent during 2001-2002.

According to Dr. Bell, as the number of diagnoses continues to rise, it is important for parents to provide school officials with pertinent health information on their children’s condition.

Have an up-to-date asthma action plan

The Pennsylvania Medical Society advises parents to have up-to-date asthma action plans for affected children and to provide copies to school officials or school nurses. These plans—developed cooperatively by physicians and parents—detail proper administration of children’s medications.

Parents also may wish to provide their schools with medical history wallet cards listing their children’s allergies, prescription drugs, surgeries, and other medical conditions. The cards are available from the Medical Society by calling Member Services, toll-free, at (800) 228-7823.

In addition, parents should do the following:

  • Complete necessary school forms. Fill out forms to identify children with asthma and to permit them to carry and self-administer their medications, if allowed by the school district.
  • Provide medications to school. Even if children have permission to carry their own medications, provide a set of labeled medications to the school in the event students misplace them.
  • Provide information to school officials. Because all children are different, give school officials a list of individual symptoms, early warning signs, and triggers. Also, provide exact instructions for procedures in case of an emergency.
  • Meet with teachers and coaches. If your school building doesn’t have a nurse present at all times, meet with teachers and coaches to educate them about your child’s asthma and allergies.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society and its member physicians remind parents that knowledge is an important tool for controlling asthma. Dr. Bell advises, “It is essential that parents work with their children’s physicians to develop an understanding of the disease and how to control it effectively.”

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