An explosion of asthma attacks among those under 15 is recorded each year during the first days of September, the time when young people return to school.
- In September 2022, Public Health France noted a 169% increase in visits to the emergency room for asthma attacks among those under 15 years old.
- This annual increase in respiratory crises is sometimes due to stopping treatments during the summer holidays.
- Furthermore, returning to school in a community facilitates the circulation of viruses and allergens.
“Each year, we observe during the two weeks following the start of the school year, a peak in calls for emergency care for asthma among children under 15 years old.” That’s what Public health France reported in its weekly update published on August 22. In September 2022, a 169% increase in visits to the emergency room for asthma attacks was recorded. This resulted in more than 33% hospitalizations compared to the last week of August.
47 trips to the emergency room for asthma attacks in children in Reunion
Faced with these findings, the health authority relaunched weekly monitoring during this end-of-summer 2023 period. According to the data presented, which comes from summaries of emergency visits and SOS Médecins consultations, the week of Back to school in Réunion (from August 14 to 20) was marked by a number of visits to the emergency room for asthma in children under 15 years of age which remains at a low level (47 visits compared to 40 the previous week) “with a share of activity comparable to that of previous years.” At the national level, recourses for asthma among those under 15 are down slightly compared to previous weeks. “The share of activity in emergencies remains at a low level comparable to that of previous years, unlike at SOS Médecins where it has been slightly higher since the week of July 31 to August 6”indicates Public Health France.
Asthma: what causes this annual increase in respiratory attacks?
According to the health authority, a peak in asthma attacks occurs each year during the first days of September, because children no longer take their basic treatment during the summer holidays. He “allows us to avoid the occurrence of the most severe exacerbations, particularly those requiring hospitalization. (…) To date, the recommendations concerning the management of asthma remain insufficiently followed.” Another explanation: this increase is associated with the increase in episodes of respiratory viral infections when community life resumes after the summer school holidays. Other factors, such as exposure to allergens at school, could also play a role.
