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Asthma, wheezing, and school absence in primary schools
R A Hill1, P J Standen, A E Tattersfield
1Respiratory Medicine Unit, City Hospital, Nottingham.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Wheezing affects over 11% of children, with nearly 6% diagnosed with asthma. Despite this, many children experiencing significant school absence due to wheezing remain undertreated for their asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Wheezing and asthma are common childhood respiratory conditions.
- School absence due to respiratory symptoms impacts children's education and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of wheezing and asthma in primary school children in Nottingham.
- To assess asthma treatment patterns and the impact of wheezing on school absence.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to parents of children in a random sample of primary schools.
- Data collected included episodes of wheezing, asthma diagnosis, prescribed treatments, and school days missed.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of wheezing was 11.5% and asthma diagnosis was 5.9% among 3805 children.
- 7% of children experienced school absence due to wheezing, with a median loss of seven days.
- A significant proportion of children with prolonged school absence (>10 days) were undertreated for asthma.
Conclusions:
- Wheezing is a common issue in primary school children, contributing significantly to school absence.
- While asthma diagnosis rates may be increasing, undertreatment of asthma, particularly in cases causing substantial school absence, remains a concern.