Life-threatening asthma attacks increase as children go back to school
Parents are being urged to ensure their children are taking their medicine
Parents of children with asthma are being urged to take action as the number of life-threatening asthma attacks is predicted to increase dramatically in the coming weeks.
According to Asthma and Lung UK, this is because every year when children go back to school after the summer holidays, there is a spike in asthma-based hospital admissions.
In 2016 - the latest data available - 1,795 children were admitted to hospitals in England with asthma in September, a sharp rise from the 435 admitted in August.
The pattern has also been observed in previous years.
It has been attributed to a number of factors including children being exposed to more triggers - such as cold and flu viruses - when they return to school.
Another factor could be that kids typically fall out of their usual routine of taking their preventer inhaler during the summer holidays.
Parents are therefore being urged to make sure their children are taking their medicine as prescribed and to become aware of potentially worrying breathing patterns.
Signs your child is struggling to breathe:
Guidelines from Asthma and Lung UK have told parents what warning signs to look out for in relation to their child's breathing.
These include: grunting with the effort of trying to breathe, the muscles under their ribs are sucking in with each breath, fast breathing, the inability to wake up or stay awake, fitting (if they have never had a fit before), stopping breathing for 20 seconds or longer and having very pale or blue skin.
Parents have been asked to call 999 if their child has any of these breathing symptoms.
Colds and weather changes can also trigger asthma attacks
Rebecca Grandison, 42, from Cheshire has to take her seven-year-old son Wilfred to hospital almost every year in September.
This is because his asthma is triggered by colds and flu, as well as changes in the weather.
She said: "I dread his return to school as I know he'll have an asthma attack and it's awful watching him experience one.
"No mother wants to see her son gasping for breath and no matter how many times it happens it never gets any easier watching someone you love so much struggling to breathe.
"I usually have to rush him to hospital or call for an ambulance if his inhalers don't help enough which is awful."
Rebecca is urging parents know how important it is to stay on top of their children's asthma during the summer holidays in an effort to prevent her and her son's experiences happening to them.
Emma Rubach, head of health advice at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "We would encourage parents to ensure that their child has their reliever inhaler - usually blue - and spacer at school to use if they have asthma symptoms and ensure their child has a yearly review with their GP or asthma nurse.
This should include a check to ensure they are using their inhaler properly, and have a written asthma action plan.
"We would advise everyone who has a child with asthma to get more advice and support from the Asthma and Lung UK website or our Helpline - 0300 222 5800."
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