Asthma/Allergies
Asthma is the number one chronic illness amongst school-age children. But, with good management most students with this illness can participate in most activities.
Good management involves an understanding of the disease, using medication as prescribed, follow-up visits with the physician, and understanding what to do when having symptoms. Spring time is usually a season of the year that more people with asthma experience symptoms because of the pollens/allergies. Students who can use their inhalers proplerly should have it with them at all times. This means for those students who are athletes it is essential that they have their rescue inhaler at all turnouts and events. If they are running in P.E. they should have it with them. I encourage students to stop, inform their teacher/P.E. instructor/coaches when they first experience symptoms so that they can use the inhaler before symptoms worsen and they may have a severe attack.
Becky Neff, BE District Nurse
