Each September, just weeks after students go back to school, there is a significant rise in visits to local emergency departments for asthma, leading to what has been called the annual September asthma epidemic.
“There is a perfect conjunction of events that lead to this epidemic but it may be preventable,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, associate medical officer of health for KFL&A Public Health. “At the end of the summer, people are at the lowest use of their asthma medications and many allergens are present at this time of the year. When students head back to class, colds and viruses circulate more easily, which puts children who suffer from asthma at greater risk of their symptoms getting worse, such as increased coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.”
KFL&A Public Health uses the Ontario-based surveillance system to watch for health trends just like this rise in asthma-related visits to hospitals and doctor’s offices. This annual increase does not only occur in the KFL&A region but across North America, and it typically happens around 18 days after school begins.
To protect children from this asthma epidemic there are some simple steps that can be followed:
- have an asthma action plan,
- speak with a health care provider to make sure the proper medications are being used, and
- take asthma control medications.
At this time of the year, the viral respiratory season starts, which includes illnesses such as the common cold and influenza. People can follow general preventive measures to keep themselves and others from getting sick such as proper hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying at home when sick.
“By following a few simple steps, people can curb the asthma epidemic before it gets started and protect their children,” said Dr. Moore. “No one wants to spend extra time at the emergency department or in a doctor’s office if it can be prevented. We want everyone to make sure they are using their asthma medications and following good hygiene practices so they don’t suffer needlessly this season.”
Release source: KFL&A Public Health | Photo: Wikimedia Commons
