Today, one in 11 youngsters in the UK live with asthma, a chronic condition characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which can cause breathing difficulties, wheezing, and tightness in the chest.

Sadly, as many as four people a day die in the UK from asthma, so this is a condition that needs to be taken seriously. For people living with asthma, getting the right management to prevent attacks and ensure a better quality of life is critical.

Every autumn, the risk for young asthma sufferers is increased due to weather changes, exposure to seasonal viruses when returning to school, and children often falling out of their asthma care routine during the holidays — making them more susceptible to triggers.

Data shows there’s a significant spike in children and young people being hospitalised because of their asthma at this time of year, as these triggers lead to an increase in symptoms and more frequent asthma attacks.

WATCH OUR SHORT FILM: Sponsored by Trudell Medical, in partnership with Asthma+Lung UK (ALUK) and the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA).

“It’s recognised that about 21, 22 days after children return to school after the summer holidays instances [of asthma-related hospital admissions] do rise,” says Julie Critcher of the School and Public Health Nurses Association , as part of the ITN Business programme ‘Prioritising Paediatric Health’.

“Of course, everybody’s asthma is different, everybody will have a different trigger[…] so, schools, parents, children and people need to understand what those personalised triggers may be and how that might affect their asthma,” she says.

Three key recommendations for managing asthma at this time of year are to ensure children and young people have had an asthma review, they have an up-to-date personalised asthma action plan (PAAP) which should be shared with their school, and that they know how to use their inhaler properly.

Asthma self-management can be a challenge, especially in adolescence when self-awareness and social environment becomes a bigger factor.

Seasonality of asthma: Hospital admissions surge in September, as children return to school.

 

“We know that when young people hit that adolescent phase, they do take risks. That’s part of growing and thriving in adolescence, but they do need to be clear that they do need to be carrying their metered-dose inhaler and a spacer, if that’s what they’ve got.”

Technological advancements in respiratory care is helping address some of the challenges that come with managing asthma effectively.

Asthma medications generally fall into two categories: preventers and relievers. Preventers, such as inhaled corticosteroids, need to be taken regularly to reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups, while reliever inhalers are used to relax the airways during an asthma attack. Both medications play distinct yet complementary roles, and skipping doses or misusing them can leave individuals vulnerable to more frequent attacks.

Inhalers deliver medication for fast relief or ongoing control of symptoms. However, for the medication to reach deep into the lungs where it’s needed, the correct inhaler technique is essential. Spacers are devices that are designed to be used with metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), to ensure the medication is delivered more effectively than the inhaler alone, into the lungs. Many asthma sufferers, particularly children, struggle with the coordination required to use an inhaler properly, so a spacer simplifies this process, allowing the medication to be inhaled slowly and reducing the amount that ends up in the mouth and throat.

In a real-world study, use of the AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* showed significant reduction in ER/A&E visits for people with asthma.

This not only ensures that more of the medication reaches the airways but also decreases the risk of side effects, such as oral thrush, that can occur when corticosteroids from inhalers accumulate in the mouth.

During an asthma attack people aren’t breathing normally, which is a problem when trying to use a MDI alone. Inhaling very quickly results in the particles impacting in the upper airway, not getting to the lungs where they need to go. Spacers can be an important tool in ensuring that prescribed treatments are as effective as possible.

Trudell Medical International designs and manufactures aerosol drug delivery and lung health devices for the management of asthma and other respiratory conditions. Their products include the AeroChamber* brand of spacer devices. In a real-world study, use of the AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* showed significant reduction in ER/A&E visits for people with asthma.(1)

Trudell Medical’s latest innovation, was designed and developed with the help of inhaler users, catering to the real, practical needs of both adults and adolescents. AeroChamber2go* is a portable, lightweight, on-the-go spacer and protective case for use with a patient’s metered-dose inhaler, ensuring rapid access to lifesaving medicine when it is needed most.

In the past, people have been less likely to carry spacers with them due to size and impracticality, but as asthma attacks often occur outside the home, when people are exposed to different triggers, portable spacers fulfil an important need for patients. For asthmatic children returning to school, it’s imperative they’re prepared and have a spacer device to use with their pMDI in emergencies.

Head here for more information.

(1). Burudpakdee C, et al. A retrospective study of the effectiveness of the AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Antistatic Valved Holding Chamber for asthma control. Pulmonary Therapy. 2017; 3: 283-296 https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs41030-017-0047-1. pdf