Asthma At School

Rutherford County Rutherford County School NursesSchool Nurses

Barbara Slacks, RN, BSN, NCSNBarbara Slacks, RN, BSN, NCSN

Objectives:

Teachers will be able to Teachers will be able to describe what asthma is and describe what asthma is and what triggers an asthma attackwhat triggers an asthma attack

Teachers will be able to list Teachers will be able to list what needs to be done when a what needs to be done when a child has symptoms of asthmachild has symptoms of asthma

Prevalence: most common chronic condition in most common chronic condition in

childhood (1in 9 school age childhood (1in 9 school age children)children)

accounts for about 25% of all accounts for about 25% of all school absenteeismschool absenteeism

33rdrd leading cause of hospital leading cause of hospital admissions in children less than 15 admissions in children less than 15 years oldyears old

What Is Asthma: Chronic inflammatory disorder of Chronic inflammatory disorder of

the airwaysthe airways Characterized by: Characterized by:

1.1. airway inflammationairway inflammation

2.2. airways that are overly airways that are overly sensitivesensitive

3.3. airway obstruction airway obstruction Is Is notnot contagious contagious

Asthma Triggers: Vigorous exerciseVigorous exercise Weather-cold air or changes in Weather-cold air or changes in

temperaturetemperature Irritants-cigarette and wood Irritants-cigarette and wood

smoke, cleaning products, smoke, cleaning products, perfumes, hair spray, spray and/or perfumes, hair spray, spray and/or fragrant deodorants, flameless fragrant deodorants, flameless candles, and room freshenerscandles, and room fresheners

Asthma Triggers continued: Allergens-mold, pollen, dander, Allergens-mold, pollen, dander,

feathers, dust feathers, dust InfectionsInfections Coughing, yelling, or laughingCoughing, yelling, or laughing Acute stress or excitementAcute stress or excitement

What Happens When Exposed to Triggers:

Triggers activate an Triggers activate an inflammatory responseinflammatory response

Airway lining swellsAirway lining swells Mucous formsMucous forms Smooth muscles constrictSmooth muscles constrict

Signs and Symptoms of Asthma: Restlessness/IrritabilityRestlessness/Irritability Frequent CoughFrequent Cough Wheezing (you may not be able to Wheezing (you may not be able to

hear this)hear this) Shortness of breath or difficulty Shortness of breath or difficulty

breathingbreathing Tightness/pain in the chestTightness/pain in the chest Sucking in the chest skin between Sucking in the chest skin between

the ribs (retractions)the ribs (retractions)

Asthma Management: Follow Asthma Action PlanFollow Asthma Action Plan Help student use medicationHelp student use medication Help them get into a position of Help them get into a position of

comfort (usually sitting straight up) comfort (usually sitting straight up) Provide a calm, reassuring Provide a calm, reassuring

atmosphereatmosphere Call for help if needed (call School Call for help if needed (call School

Nurse or First Responders)Nurse or First Responders) For signs of distress call 911For signs of distress call 911

Medications:

RelieversRelievers Used for quick Used for quick

relief of acute relief of acute symptomssymptoms

These “rescue These “rescue inhalers” are inhalers” are used at schoolused at school

ControllersControllers Are taken long Are taken long

term to obtain term to obtain control of control of persistent persistent asthmaasthma

These These medications are medications are taken at hometaken at home

References: National Association of School Nurses, (2007). National Association of School Nurses, (2007).

Managing Asthma Triggers Keeping Students Managing Asthma Triggers Keeping Students Healthy: Air Quality Issues. Printed in the Healthy: Air Quality Issues. Printed in the United States.United States.

Selekman, J. (2006). School Nursing: A Selekman, J. (2006). School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text. F.A. Davis Company: New Comprehensive Text. F.A. Davis Company: New York.York.

What is Asthma. (2008). Retrieved March What is Asthma. (2008). Retrieved March 11,2009, from U.S. Department of Health and 11,2009, from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site: Human Services web site: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Ahttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatsIs.htmlsthma/Asthma_WhatsIs.html