Click here to view a copy of the 'September Spike' advertisement for the August issues of Pharmacy Post and Medical Post.
Hospital admissions for Paediatric asthmatics 'spike' during the 3rd week of
September.
Already the most
common respiratory disease in Canadian children, asthma is responsible for
one-quarter of school absenteeism, and is the leading cause of
hospitalizations of children up to the age of 14.
Of additional concern is a report from the Canadian Institute for Health
Information (CIHI) that documents a surge in hospital visits for
children with poorly controlled asthma during the third week of September,
and shows admissions actually doubling compared with August
hospitalizations.
Although the cause for this annual ‘September Spike’ has not yet been
determined, Epidemiologists theorize that triggers—like cold and flu
infections—are transferred between children at school, then carried home to
infants and toddlers.
Based on this report, it appears that children with poorly controlled asthma
who live in Canada—or, in fact, anywhere in the northern hemisphere—are at
greater risk for a hospital ER visit in September than in any other month.
What can you do?
Talk with your asthma patients about the September Spike phenomenon during
their next visit. Take an opportunity to review their asthma self-management
guidelines. And, for those patients using pMDI medications, recommend the
use of an AeroChamber*
brand of valved holding chamber (VHC) to
improve medication delivery to the lungs. Studies show that close to
three-quarters of asthma sufferers are unable to use their puffers
effectively.
A peak flow meter, such as TruZone* PFM is another valuable
aid in managing asthma. Recording peak flow rates over time can help
identify changes that may indicate an impending attack.
* trade marks and registered trade marks of Trudell Medical International
© Trudell Medical International 2005. All rights reserved
MD-285A-0805