It’s hard enough for kids to stay focused during class. Add in bouts of sneezing, wheezing, and coughing your child’s learning experience could be completely disrupted.
Expert pediatrician Kalpana Kumari, MD, FAAP, and our team at Rise & Shine Pediatrics know how detrimental even a minor stuffy nose can be to your child’s school day. That’s why we make allergy and asthma management and treatment a key part of our comprehensive services.
We’re also dedicated to working with parents and caregivers to provide them with all the tools they need to ensure their child has a happy, safe school year.
Here are our best back-to-school tips for kids with asthma and allergies.
Your child’s teachers and school workers are among your greatest assets when it comes to allergy and asthma management.
Make it a point to discuss your child’s triggers with the school nurse at the beginning of the school year. You can request that your child’s teachers and staff be aware of high pollen days and keep windows closed to prevent your child from exposure to allergens. Ask whether tasks that stir up allergens, such as lawn mowing, occur during school hours. If it’s a high pollen day, suggest that an indoor recess alternative be provided for sensitive kids.
Many schools don’t allow children to carry medication with them, but in the case of asthma or a severe allergy, waiting for a nurse to give them their medication could miss their treatment window and cause a severe reaction.
Find out if your child’s school can make an exception, so they can self-administer their medication when necessary. Make a plan that teachers, the school nurse, and administrators can follow in case your child has a reaction — especially if that reaction is a severe asthma attack or anaphylaxis.
Talk to your child about their triggers so they can avoid them successfully and sidestep a flare-up. Let them know that it’s OK to leave an activity and ask them to go to the nurse’s office if they feel symptoms or an attack coming on.
Many of our parents choose to give their child a medical ID bracelet that reminds the school about their child’s condition. It quickly reminds school staff that your child may need epinephrine without them having to spend time reviewing their file.
Food and insect bites are common allergies that can cause a serious reaction. With a few precautions, you can help your child avoid them while at school.
For instance, if your child has food allergies, pack their lunch, and teach them not to share utensils, napkins, and plates. Your child may need to sit at a designated table or in a classroom that excludes any common food allergy triggers, such as peanuts. Ask the staff about these and how your child can take advantage of them.
If your child is allergic to bee stings or other insects, talk to them about avoiding areas where bugs gather and not wearing brightly colored clothing on the playground, as this attracts bees and wasps. Inform the school nurse about your child’s allergy and provide them with epinephrine to be used if your child is stung.
If you’d like more information about allergy and asthma management and treatment, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment online or over the phone at our office in South Plainfield, New Jersey, today.
