- SATURDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) — With the start of school
here, the American Lung Association is advising parents of children with
asthma to follow a simple checklist to ensure this sometimes debilitating
disease doesn't hinder their child's academic year.

Almost 11 percent of school-age children have asthma. Annually, these
students miss some 13 million days in the classroom because of asthma,
making it one of the most common reasons kids are absent from school.

The American Lung Association also urges parents who have children with
asthma to:

• Schedule an asthma check-up: Even if your child's condition is well
  controlled, meeting with your pediatrician is also an opportunity to
  evaluate medications and physical activity restrictions.
• Confirm medicines are up-to-date and fill prescriptions: If your child
  uses an inhaler, ensure you have a current prescription for the new HFA
  inhaler (the old CFC inhalers will now longer be available after Dec. 31,
  2008). Ensure your child's asthma prescriptions have sufficient refills
  available and have not expired.
• Know about prescription assistance services: Two organizations can
  help if you have issues affording your child's asthma medication. The
  Partnership for Prescription Assistance can be reached at 1-888-4PPA-NOW.
  Rx Outreach provides online help at www.rxoutreach.com.
• Have an asthma action plan: An asthma action plan details personal
  information about the child's asthma symptoms, medications, any physical
  activity limitations, and provides specific instructions about what to do
  if an asthma attack does not improve with prescribed medication. Provide
  this to all your student's teachers, coaches, the school nurse, and the
  front office administrators.
• Meet with your child's school nurse and teachers: Discuss with your
  child's teachers specific triggers and typical symptoms. Learn if the
  school allows students to carry and independently administer their asthma
  medication. Learn what steps need to be taken to have your child carry and
  use his or her inhaler if recommended by a doctor.
• Know your schools asthma emergency plan: Ensure that your child's
  school knows how to contact you in case of an emergency. You should also
  know the school's past history of dealing with asthma episodes. Confirm
  that school staffers — including after-school coaches and bus drivers —
  have been trained to respond to asthma emergencies.

More information

The American Lung Association has more about asthma in children.