As the school year prepares to get underway, health experts are warning whānau that the weeks ahead are the most dangerous time of the year for tamariki living with asthma.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ says hospitalisations for children with asthma consistently spike in the third week of Term One – just weeks after students return to the classroom.
Chief Executive Letitia Harding says the so-called “back-to-school effect” is stronger than the winter peak and places real pressure on emergency departments.
Every year, she says, the same pattern emerges – children return to school, routines change, bugs spread, and preventable asthma attacks follow.
On the worst day in week three of Term One, a child’s risk of being hospitalised with asthma is two and a half times higher than on the first day of term.
Symptoms of an asthma attack include a worsening cough, persistent wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.
For Māori whānau, the warning carries added weight. Māori children are more likely to be hospitalised for respiratory conditions and face ongoing inequities in access to primary healthcare, warm housing, and consistent medication.
Health advocates say asthma is not just a medical issue, but a whānau issue – influenced by overcrowded homes, exposure to damp conditions, and barriers to regular GP visits.
International research shows the post-school spike is caused by a “perfect storm” of factors – new allergens, changes in routine, emotional stress or anxiety, and increased exposure to viruses as children mix closely in classrooms.
To reduce the risk, parents and caregivers are being urged to make sure their child has an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan and that it is shared with their kura, teachers, and support staff.
An Asthma Action Plan clearly sets out what to do when a child’s breathing begins to worsen – guidance that can be critical in an emergency.
Whānau are also reminded to check that children are taking their preventer medication as prescribed and are carrying a working reliever inhaler to school.
That means checking the inhaler is actually in the bag, not empty, and not past its expiry date.
Schools also have an important role to play. The Foundation says every school should have a clearly accessible asthma emergency kit, ready to use when minutes matter.
Asthma remains one of Aotearoa’s most common long-term conditions, affecting one in eight children and one in eight adults. Around 96 people die from asthma each year – nearly two every week.
Children make up one-third of all respiratory-related hospital admissions, and more than 360,000 school days are lost each year due to asthma symptoms.
Asthma Action Plans can be downloaded free of charge, and asthma emergency kits purchased, through the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ website.
For Māori whānau, the message is clear – knowing the signs, having a plan, and being prepared can help keep our tamariki safe, healthy, and learning this school year.
