1 in 10 children and young people in London have asthma but less than half of these have an asthma management plan or know how to use their inhaler correctly. Many have badly managed asthma - to the extent that 4,000 are admitted to hospital with asthma every year and 170 have such a severe episode that they require admission to intensive care.
Week 38 of the year (this year 14-20th September) is also known as the ‘Asthma September Spike’, when we see a sharp increase in the number of asthma hospital admissions in Croydon.
The main culprits for this include the return to school, with subsequent exposure to bugs and viral illnesses, as well as a lapse in preventer inhaler use over the school holidays.
What can be done to prepare for the spike?
· Make sure there is an up-to-date asthma action plan in place
· Ensure inhaler technique is correct
· Book an asthma review
Resources available
- Update your knowledge on asthma with free tier training
- Share information on asthma management with families using Asthma & Lung UK
Webpage: 
