A national policy on asthma management for schools

Since asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood, many of the problems associated with this condition will impact on the child's education. Because of widespread concerns regarding the management of asthma in schools, a subcommittee of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, Asthma Special Interest Group, was convened to draw up national guidelines for school staff in order to provide optimal management of asthma in the school setting. We used current medical literature and the clinical experience of the authors who have dealt with children and adolescents suffering from asthma in the hospital, community and school environment. A number of issues had been identified, including: the availability of an asthma first aid kit; correct use of bronchodilator aerosols by puffer and spacer devices; and clear instructions as to when to notify parents and when to call an ambulance to the school. To provide optimal care of asthma in the school setting, the committee made the following recommendations: (i) improved guidance and training of school teachers and ancillary staff in appropriate asthma care; (ii) improved recognition by schools of those students with asthma; (iii) schools should encourage a policy of exercise for all students with asthma; (iv) asthma medication should be readily available at all times to those students with asthma; (v) the safety of school excursions and school camps should be improved by having available personnel competent in acute asthma management; a mobile asthma first aid kit: and by ensuring the student continues taking their usual asthma medications throughout the excursion; (vi) the early introduction of a 'lung health' education programme for all students, with particular emphasis on asthma being encouraged. We believe that asthma management in schools would be optimized if this national policy were adopted throughout Australian schools.