One child out of eight has asthma

One out of eight Canadian children has asthma. As a result, there are likely to be several children in each classroom with asthma. Uncontrolled asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism and may limit children's learning opportunities. Uncontrolled asthma also causes many nights of interrupted sleep, several days of limited activity, and disruptions in normal activities of life. A national survey revealed that approximately 60% of Canadians with asthma have poor control of their condition. The majority of children with asthma are able to lead a normal life if appropriate medications and environmental control strategies are used. Periodically, some children with asthma will experience an attack or episode of asthma symptoms. The condition is rarely fatal but should not be underestimated.   More children are admitted to hospital with asthma than any other chronic condition. It is also a leading cause of emergency room visits.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the smaller airways of the lungs.  

What happens when asthma is triggered?

When people with asthma come into contact with one of their triggers, three things happen.   The lining of the airway starts to swell, mucus is secreted, and the muscles in the airway tighten or constrict.   These three effects combine to make the airways very narrow, which makes it hard to breathe.

Sudden narrowing of the airways produce what is often called an “attack of asthma”.   Ongoing narrowing of the airways leads to less dramatic but more frequent symptoms of difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing.   These symptoms can be reversed with medication and by reducing exposure to environmental triggers.   Not every person will experience all of the symptoms listed.   Often a cough may be the only symptom experienced.

What is an asthma trigger?

For children who have asthma, inflammation in the airways causes the airways to become extra sensitive to a variety of triggers in the environment.   An asthma trigger is anything in the environment that causes or provokes asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, difficulty breathing). Common triggers include viral infections (common colds); allergies (furry animals, house dust mites, pollen, and moulds); fumes (paints, indelible markers, perfumes, cleaning products and glue); extremes of temperature (cold or hot and humid); exercise; and excitement or laughing. Most children with asthma have more than one trigger.   However, the triggers and the degree of asthma symptoms differ for each person with asthma.

Asthma Medication

In general, asthma medications work in one of two ways to relieve symptoms.   They either work by controlling or preventing the inflammation and mucous production or by   relieving the muscle tightness around the airways.  

Asthma and Schools

During the school year, children spend about 40% of their wakeful hours at school.   Recognition of asthma and the impact it has on children in school is important. School personnel play an important role in helping students with asthma manage the condition at school.