Inspired by Seaspray -Are Kids With Asthma ...

[cinlee3]

ignored.

By that I mean is asthma in children so common that when a child is coughing or having trouble breathing that teachers, coaches, etc. tell them use your inhaler and deal with it?

My DS's P.E. instructions say if a child has asthma and doesn't have his/her inhaler they will be marked off for being prepared for class.

I have also seen football coaches basically ignore a child gasping for breath and in tears because of their asthma.

The reason this concerns me is my DD age 4 has the wheezing type of asthma which can appear quickly. We have had to take her to the ER at least once a year for the past 3 years and she usually spends the winter using the nebulizer. I know kids use nebs at school, but if she has a really bad attack I worry that it wouldn't be taken seriously.

I realize people with asthma should not be treated as sickly and they lead normal, healthy lives. I am just asking for opinions as DD starts school next year.

 

[snuggles]

I would schedule a conference with all teachers involved and explain the situation to them. Maybe a note from your dr would help too.

 

[SeaSpray]

Asthma kills people every year. It IS a serious chronic illness to have. I agree that you shouldn't let it stop a child from playing sports or anything else, but when they get an attack, it must be taken seriously and handled quickly.

I have a nebulizer for DS14 at his school. In years past, when he's needed to, he simply asks to go to the nurse, uses the nebulizer, then returns to class. (this is of course as long as the treatment works and he's breathing OK again, which has always been the case). This has always been the least invasive way and he's never had to leave school during the day because of asthma till this year. An inhaler does absolutely nothing for DS when his asthma flares up, so it cannot be held against him for not carrying one. (He has taken them on field trips and other places where it wasn't practical to carry the nebulizer).

You're right though....because DS has athma, the doctors and I all thought this recent coughing problem was due to that, and he was misdiagnosed for the past week

I just want to say: If ANYONE EVER tells a child to "just use your inhaler and deal with it", they should be reported and taught the facts about asthma and until then, be kept away from children. This really makes my blood boil.... grrr.....

 

[janette]

My 8yo DD has asthma and it hasn't been a problem. She has an inhaler at school but has to go to the nurse's office to use it. She's never had a problem with teachers not allowing her to go when she asks. The nurse has told me they have a nebulizer available if we ever need it but she's never been bad enough that the inhaler wasn't enough during school hours.

It is more common now but it is serious and shouldn't be ignored. Make sure her teachers watch for any problems, and make sure you have at least an inhaler at school for her right away.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Asthma kills people every year. My dr. lost his sister to it and always reminds me of this. That being said, it is best as early as possible to help children to manage their asthma. They can learn to recognize symptoms and head off the worst attacks. I use my inhaler 15 minutes before any exercise regularly.
It is very, very common and often it is very mild. Children in gym class often use it as a way out of class. If it is managed, and children learn their limits they can participate. There are alot of olympic athletes with asthma.

 

[holycow]

I would definately just let the teacher know and put it on the emergency card.
It is a bit tougher as they get older since they have so many teachers and they just can't deal with everyone.

My DS is in 8th grade this year and has really been have a nasty time since May...bronchitis, pneumonia etc....he was having a really bad day with it at PE and the teacher wouldn't let him go and get his inhaler!!!! Needless to say my DH called the school and let them know the situation!
Grrrrr....really made me mad...

HC

 

[bumcat]

Holycow - we had the same problem! I have 3 kids with asthma and I have always told them that if a teacher will not let them leave to get their inhalant to walk out of class. I promised them it is the only time they will not get in trouble.
Actually had one teacher tell my daughter to go get a drink a water for her asthma.
Had another that made my other daughter wait until her class was over (it had just started) before she could go to the nurse.
When my son was in second grade I met his teacher and told her he has asthma, she said so does she. I stupidly said, oh that's great! She knew what I meant, I was relieved since I knew he would be in good hands that year!

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by cinlee3
...tell them use your inhaler and deal with it?

My DS's P.E. instructions say if a child has asthma and doesn't have his/her inhaler they will be marked off for being prepared for class.

I have also seen football coaches basically ignore a child gasping for breath and in tears because of their asthma.

It was PE jerks like that (I can't bring myself to call those insensitive idiots, who are so in love with their "sport" that they'll ignore a potentially life-threatening incident, "teachers") that made me absolutely DESPISE PE and develope a HUGE prejudice against PE and PE instructors.

Can you tell I have asthma and had to deal with idiots like what you're encountering? The memory of those idiots still makes me see red.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by SeaSpray
I just want to say: If ANYONE EVER tells a child to "just use your inhaler and deal with it", they should be reported and taught the facts about asthma and until then, be kept away from children. This really makes my blood boil.... grrr.....

Oh, as far as I'm concerned, those idiots should be kicked out of schools and sent to catalog the growing of mold or moss or tundra or whatever in Siberia where they'll never have responsibility for another child again.

 

[disykat]

We almost have the opposite problem - the school being too alarmed and not letting our son deal with it. Our son has cough variant Reactive Airway Disease. Last year when he had pnemonia twice they finally started to allow him to stay at school during the healing process. Often his coughing spasms continue for weeks after an illness and I can't keep him home all that time. I would have him return to school and he would start coughing and I'd get a call to come get him. By the time I'd get him home the spasm would be over and he'd be fine for the rest of the day. They finally agreed to let him sit in the office sick room, use his inhaler, and wait it out. I know it's unpleasant to listen to 15 minutes of severe coughing but I can't keep him home for a month after every cold just in case.

That said, I would much rather deal with my problem than have them ignore breathing difficulty. How frightening!

 

[JohnTBap]

At our school we are very cautious with Asthmatics. Their condition is indicated on the back of their ID badge and that serves as a Clinic Pass whenever they need to go for meds. I try to be extra sensitive, also, as my mother has a friend whose son died from an attack.

 

[bumcat]

Rajah - It was a P.E. teacher that told my daughter to go get a drink a water when she had an asthma attack.

 

[grinningghost]

I can't say for sure, but I think DD might have been passed over for the volleyball team because of her asthma. She definitely was not the best player that tried out (not even close), but she was better than a couple of girls that did make the team. I suspect her asthma pushed her to the bottom of the list. Hopefully that won't always be the case, she loves sports and just wants to be part of a team.

 

[cinlee3]

Thanks for the replies.

It will definitely be noted on her card when DD starts school. I was just concerned when DS brought home the P.E. instructions that said they would be marked off for not having their inhaler. I'm sure there may be some kids who might use it as a way to get out of the P.E. but it almost seemed like they think the inhaler will take care of it - like others have said sometimes the inhalers don't.