Avoiding the September Asthma Peak Week

 What is the September Asthma epidemic?

During the 3rd week of September, asthma hospitalizations spike. In fact, it's the highest time of the year for asthma hospitalizations.

You may have thought it was in the middle of winter - during flu season. But it's the 3rd week of September.

 What causes the September Asthma Epidemic?

There are many causes:

• Back to school  - instead of spending time outdoors, kids are back inside
  
• Unventilated classrooms - rooms are usually small with many kids and bad ventilation.That makes it easy for germs to spread 
•  Animal dander - kids with asthma can have asthma attacks when other students come to school with cat and dog dander on their clothing. This happened to my son in 2nd grade and he had to start allergy shots (we couldn't ask the classmates to get rid of their pets -  that would have gone over well. So we had to protect my son with allergy shots.)
• Fall allergies - ragweed and chenopods are in bloom. And outdoor molds in the dirt and piles of leaves are all very common in fall.  
• Stress - this is a known asthma trigger. A new teacher, new classmates, bullying and stress over coursework is common. 
• Not taking asthma meds - kids (and adults) aren't diligent at taking their controller inhaler every morning and every night. A controller inhaler works like an anti-inflammatory to control the swelling in the lungs. If you have swelling in the lungs, and catch a simple cold, it can often morph into pneumonia or bronchitis......and an asthma hospitalization  

 

Keep in mind that the September Epidemic doesn't just affect kids. When school aged kids are sick, they bring home germs to younger siblings, parents and grandparents. The whole house can end up sick. 

That can mean a lot of missed school and work days.

How can you avoid the September asthma peak?

Take your daily, controller inhaler as prescribed (which is usually morning and night.) Many labels say, "take two puffs per day." So many people will take both puffs in the morning. But, controller inhalers last for 12 hours and wear off by night time. 

If you take both puffs in the morning, you may have symptoms during the night and wake up coughing or wheezing. 

 Albuterol inhaler for backpacks. Did you know that it's legal in every state in the U.S. for kids to carry their inhaler and use it if needed? BUT - you must fill out a permission form at the beginning of every school year. It is signed by the doctor, parent or guardian, and school nurse or principal. 

Asthma Action Plan. Are you not sure what do do when your child has an asthma attack? Do you wonder if you need to go to the ER or hospital? How do you know? An Asthma Action Plan tells you what to do when your child is in the green, yellow, or red zone. You and your doctor should fill it out together at the beginning of each school year. 

Teach your kids to wash their hands well or use hand sanitizer. Most teachers do a good job of teaching kids to sneeze into their elbow instead of their hand. But...kids are kids, so a good handwashing can protect them. And from kids who pick their nose. 

Flu shot. We get a flu shot and COVID shot every fall. One year, I caught Influenza A. I felt off at lunch, and by dinner I was in the ER. The doctor was stunned and said he couldn't believe how sick I got, and how fast I got sick. That's just what happens with asthma. He told me if I hadn't had the flu shot, he would be admitting me to the hospital because my lungs were already "full of gunk". He prescribed oral steroids and an anti-viral and I was able to battle the flu at home. 

Good luck to all of you sending kids off to school. And keep in touch with your college aged kids in case they get sick too.

Make sure you are stocked up on albuterol inhalers or albuterol for your nebulizer - just in case.