Benefit of climatic summer camps for children with asthma bronchiale

Abstract

Two-week long climate camps for asthmatic children have been organised since 1999 in Ludvikov, Jeseniky Mountains (altitude 620 m) by Department of Pediatrics at University Hospital Olomouc together with parents‘ association. During the stay, children gradually increase their physical activity under medical guidance. Between 1999 and 2019, a total of 915 children aged 8-18 years participated in the recondition stays. All of them had moderate asthma and were treated IKS/LABA. We checked correct application of drugs, educated patients and recorded the values of morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF). The program included indoor and outdoor (forest) games and physical activities. Daily agenda of the camp and continuous supervision of children was a responsibility of medical students, who in return observed patients’ reaction to physical burden. Thanks to sponsorship, children from socially disadvantaged families or unbalanced family conditions could also participate. During the 14-day stays, children increase their physical fitness and are able to walk 24 – 26 km trip on the penultimate day. In 60% of children, supervision of proper drug administration increased patients’ compliance and reduced the need for rescue medication (salbutamol spray). Summer recondition camps combine the advantages of mountain climate with the availability of education, treatment supervision and evaluation of the clinical condition. Dosing physical load under medical guidance gradually increases physical fitness of children with asthma and enables them to undertake equal sporting activities as their healthy peers. Medical students gain valuable experience through contact with asthma bronchiale in everyday life.