For those with asthma, September and the fall season can be a dangerous time, especially for young children. According to the Allergy and Asthma Network, during the months of September and October, asthmatic attacks that require an ER visit or hospitalization spike. As if the age of COVID wasn’t enough, during the month of September, as the kids go back to school, hospitalizations for children with asthma increase dramatically. Some refer to this time as the “September asthma peak,” and it happens for a variety of reasons.
September Asthma Peak: Why Does It Happen?
• Increased exposure to viral infections
• Ragweed and mold allergens are high during this time of year
• Back to school means exposure to multiple allergens
• Irregular medication use during the summer months
• Stress and anxiety from the new school year/COVID
Be Proactive: Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy
Despite the risks associated with the September asthma peak, there are ways to keep your child healthy. Take these proactive steps to help ensure your child returns to school safely this year.
1. Take all medications as prescribed by your child’s doctor, year-round.
2. Before the school year begins, or at the beginning, schedule a checkup with your child’s doctor.
3. Refill all medications at the beginning of the school year.
4. Follow good hygienic practices, and encourage frequent handwashing.
5. If your child is sick, keep them home from school, especially now.
6. Identify environmental triggers and aim to avoid them. Talk to your child’s teacher if your child has severe reactions to pollen, grass, dust, etc.
7. Ensure your child has his or her needed medication at school. Give to the teacher or school nurse if the child is too young to regulate usage.
8. Staying hydrated and eating healthy meals is vital. Having balanced meals can help lower inflammation, keep the body healthy, and can help ward off sickness.
9. Educate your child, so they understand their condition and can learn how to manage it. Teach them how to use their medication correctly and how to monitor their symptoms.
10. If you do not have an Asthma Action Plan in writing, get one. Everyone with asthma should have one, and it needs to be shared with your child’s teacher, nurse, and after school staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
The September asthma peak refers to the significant increase in asthma attacks requiring ER visits or hospitalizations during September and October, particularly in children. This spike occurs due to factors like increased exposure to viral infections, high levels of ragweed and mold allergens, exposure to multiple allergens from returning to school, irregular medication use during summer, and added stress and anxiety from the new school year and COVID-19.
Children with asthma are more vulnerable during back-to-school because they face increased exposure to allergens like ragweed and mold and to respiratory viral infections from close contact with classmates. Additionally, inconsistent medication routines over the summer and stress related to school and the pandemic can exacerbate symptoms, leading to higher rates of asthma attacks and hospitalizations.
Parents should ensure year-round medication adherence, schedule a checkup before school starts, refill all asthma medicines early, encourage good hygiene and handwashing, keep sick children home, identify and avoid environmental triggers, coordinate with school staff to provide necessary medication, promote hydration and healthy eating, educate their child about asthma management, and obtain an Asthma Action Plan to share with caregivers.
An Asthma Action Plan is a written guide that outlines how to manage a child's asthma daily and how to handle worsening symptoms or attacks. Having this plan is crucial for ensuring that teachers, school nurses, and after-school caregivers know exactly what steps to take in different situations to keep the child safe and prevent severe asthma episodes during the high-risk fall season.
Environmental triggers such as pollen, dust, mold, and grass can worsen asthma symptoms in children when they are exposed at school. Identifying these triggers and communicating with teachers or school staff can help minimize exposure, allowing the child to avoid flare-ups and maintain better asthma control during the school year.
Stress and anxiety, including concerns related to starting a new school year and the COVID-19 pandemic, can exacerbate asthma symptoms by increasing inflammation and triggering attacks. Managing these psychological factors alongside physical triggers is important to reduce the frequency and severity of asthma episodes.
Keeping sick children with asthma home helps prevent additional respiratory infections that can trigger severe asthma attacks. Since viral infections are common during the fall and can exacerbate symptoms, avoiding exposure to illness supports better asthma control and reduces the risk of hospitalization.