Allergy emergency: check medicines before school term

Before the school term begins, families need an up-to-date allergy plan and in-date emergency medicine for their children. The Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology issued the call in Madrid on 4 September, urging families and schools to make sure they can act if a child becomes unwell.

A medical report should set out the allergens a child must avoid, warning signs to watch for and the prescribed treatment. Families should also give the school the agreed response plan and check medicines are correctly adjusted and have not expired, especially adrenaline auto-injectors and inhalers.

Schools need the child’s emergency plan

In some autonomous communities, schools teaching pupils with allergies must keep enough adrenaline auto-injectors themselves. They are responsible for storing them properly and checking expiry dates.

Children should also understand their allergy in line with their age and maturity. They need to recognise symptoms and know when to ask an adult for help. The child’s allergist can adapt treatment as their condition develops.

Fast action for asthma and severe reactions

Asthma attacks in children can be triggered by exercise, particularly in cold or dry conditions, infections, allergens and irritants. Dust mites, pollen, mould and some cleaning products are among the possible triggers. Intense laughter, crying and emotional stress can also play a part.

The society’s school asthma protocol helps teachers spot coughing, wheezing and fatigue early, and includes guidance on using a rescue inhaler with a spacer without delay. Schools must also know the diagnosis, possible triggers and personal action plan for children at risk of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

The AllergApp app lets patients enter clinical details and prescribed treatment, then select symptoms if they suspect a reaction to receive guidance on starting to act. It can also provide general allergen information, a shareable PDF report, videos on adrenaline devices and access to the 112 emergency number. The app does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis and treatment plan from an allergist.

Topics: Education · Culture · Health · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com