Allergy and asthma symptoms often increase soon after school starts. Close contact with other children in enclosed spaces exposes children with asthma to respiratory viruses and animal dander that children with pets carry from home. Weed pollens are often at peak levels during the early weeks of school. Make sure your child's allergy and asthma prescriptions are filled so you can be ready to treat the very first signs of worsening symptoms.

Below are several tips to help parents of children with asthma prepare for the new school year.

Asthma Action Plan

Ask your doctor for a written asthma action plan for the school. A sample version of this form is available here for web viewing or available here for easy printing. This plan should include what medicine to use to treat asthma symptoms and changes in peak flow zones, what medication to use as a treatment before exercise, emergency telephone numbers, and a list of things that make your child's asthma worse. Schools have varying policies about allowing children to bring medications to school. Contact your child's school, and find out its policy. Many school districts require a doctor to fill out a form listing medications a child should be allowed to have at school. If those forms are needed, get them and make sure your doctor fills them out.

Getting Ready for Fall

When school starts, weed pollens and cooler weather may bring about a change in your child's condition. Being prepared for these changes can make a big difference in keeping your child's asthma well controlled.

Dealing With School Stress

The first weeks of school can be a stressful time, which can exacerbate existing allergies and asthma. Parents can help their children cope with the stresses of a new school year. Give your children opportunities to talk and bring up issues that are on their mind. Often routine activities, such as sharing a meal, washing the dishes, or driving to school, provide the best opportunities for conversation. Don't worry if you don't have an answer right away; listening is the most important thing.

Meet With School Staff

Plan a meeting with school staff before or in the beginning weeks of the school year. It is helpful to have the school nurse, health aide, teacher, and physical education teacher at the meeting. Your child also can be involved in the meeting. Take the written asthma action plan to the meeting. Review the action plan, use of the peak flow meter, medicines, and things that make your child's asthma worse.

Special School Supplies

Keep a peak flow meter, spacer, and rescue medicine at school for your child. Make sure the rescue medicine has not passed its expiration date. Take these items home at the end of each school year.

Field Trips

Asthma should not keep your child from participating in an off-site field trip. Be prepared to take medicines along to use for flare-ups.

Keep in Touch

Continue talking on a regular basis with your child and school staff about managing asthma at school, even if everything is fine. Talk with the school staff if your child misses school and assignments.

When to Stay Home

Talk with your child's doctor about when it is OK to stay home from school because of asthma or illness. Mild asthma symptoms can usually be handled at school, but there are a number of factors (what triggered the asthma, the stability of peak flows, fever, how much medicine your child is taking, etc.) to consider when deciding whether to keep your child at home.