[Participation of asthmatic children in gymnastic lessons at school]

Exercise is a predominant stimulus leading to bronchial obstruction in asthmatic children. Therefore physicians, teachers and parents still have a negative attitude towards physical exercise of asthmatic children in school. We investigated the attendance of girls and boys with asthma during sport-lessons at school.

254 teachers who give lessons in sports in 46 different schools (high school, primary and secondary school) in Hamburg were asked about their knowledge of the disease and how often and in which manner asthmatic children participated their sport-lessons.

Teachers estimated that in each class (average: 25 - 30 children) approximately 1 asthmatic is present. 60 % of these asthmatics take part likewise their healthy peers. 40 % either take part only sometimes (12,6 %) or specific elements (25,2 %) or not at all (12,2 %). Most of the teachers assessed their knowledge about the disease as medium good. In contrast, only 4,7 % of them had a specific plan that allows asthmatics to participate sport-lessons without getting obstructive.

Asthmatic children are underestimated in school and participate in only 60 % equally to their healthy peers at sport-lessons. The knowledge about this most frequent chronic disease in children could be increased. Better training of teacher-students and teachers is recommended.