Northern Ireland parents are being urged to protect their children from life-threatening asthma attacks as the risk doubles at the start of the school year.

With inhaler routines for children often disrupted over the holidays, Asthma + Lung Northern Ireland warned that children can be more sensitive to triggers like viruses, cold and dust.

Asthma affects around 40,000 children in Northern Ireland, with the charity stating that emergency admissions for under 16s has more than doubled in August and September over the last two years.

Last year’s Autumn term alone saw 154 admissions out of a total 421 for 2024/25.

How to protect children from asthmas attacks

  • Official advice from the charity is to make sure children use their steroid preventer daily as prescribed to prevent airways becoming inflamed.
  • Check they have their reliever inhaler and spacer in their school bag so it is quickly available.
  • Arrange for an annual asthma review with GP or asthma nurse to detect early symptoms and ensure inhalers are being used correctly.
  • Request an extra reliever inhaler to give to school for emergencies.
  • Share an up to date asthma action plan with the child’s school to make sure they are aware of triggers, symptoms and how to manage sudden flare ups.
  • If a child having an asthma attack does not improve with a reliever inhaler or using their asthma action plan, call 999 and follow the charity’s online asthma attack advice for children . 

One mother from Derry, Haley, spoke of how she protects her three children Ruben, Mila and Leighton as they head back to class.

“It is always a worrying time when the children go back to school in September, because of circulating viruses and dust,” she said.

(Alamy Stock Photo)

“Luckily, because my son Ruben goes to a special needs school as he is autistic and nonverbal, the classes are very small, so it’s not so much of a worry with him and his asthma.

“Mila, on the other hand, has many allergies and triggers including dust and always picks up bugs especially at the beginning of the autumn term.

“We try to avoid the dust and the school is great, she doesn’t sit on the carpet, but on a chair and if there are lots of bugs going around, she can do her work in a breakout room. We have a robust asthma care plan in place and have a great relationship with the local asthma nurse.”

With a good preventer inhaler routine over the holidays, including using antihistamines, she adds: “Mila is of an age now she is very conscientious about taking her preventer inhaler and really listens to her body and is confident to ask for help if she needs it.”

“My youngest Leighton is just being tested now for asthma, but we will of course be watchful when he returns to school.”

Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride, welcomed the campaign and also encouraged parents to make sure their child receives the free seasonal flu vaccine in school this autumn to protect them and others with underlying health conditions.

Further information is available online at www.asthmaandlung.org.uk or by calling the Asthma + Lung UK helpline on 0300 222 5800.