The prevalence and management of asthma in primary-aged schoolchildren in the south of England.
A postal questionnaire survey of headteachers in 149 Infant, Junior and Primary schools (response rate: 63.8%) indicated poor asthma record keeping and a need for regular staff training in asthma. Dealing with an emergency was a major concern of headteachers. In 25 of the schools surveyed, an International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was distributed to parents of children in Years 3 and 4 (7-9 years). Headteacher-reported asthma prevalence was 11.9% in these schools, while ISAAC parental reports indicated a current or previous diagnosis of asthma in 24.3% children, with 17.8% receiving asthma treatment and 18.9% reporting wheeze in the previous 12 months. Of six wheezing children per Year 3/4 class, one was receiving no treatment for asthma, three had experienced four or more attacks of wheeze in the previous year with one wheezing child per two Year 3/4 classes experiencing more than 12 such attacks. Four in six children experienced exercise-related wheeze, while only one in five schools allowed asthma medication at Physical Education lessons. A whole school policy on asthma together with some regularly updated staff education and training by an asthma-trained nurse would address many of the issues raised in this study.
McCann
Donna
D
Health Education Unit, Research and Graduate School of Education, University of Southampton, Highfield, UK.
McWhirter
Jenny
J
Coleman
Helen
H
Devall
Isobel
I
Calvert
Marguerite
M
Weare
Katherine
K
Warner
John
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires