Exercise, the School, and the Allergic Child

Abstract

We have met the challenge! The poet of Ecclesiastes is turning over in his grave, conceding the fact that there is something new under this Seattle sun. This selected panel of world-wide experts has deliberated at length and exercised its best judgment in coming up with some positive answers to difficult questions pertaining to exercise and asthma. The duration of our exercise has left us panting, if not wheezing! Our next challenge must be to communicate this information to the patient who needs help and to the responsible peopele involved in his care. This includes not only his personal physician but also his family, his school authorities, and his recreation leaders. The successful management of any recurrent or chronic illness demands education and understanding of the natural course of the disease, its etiologic factors, its treatment, and its long-term prognosis. This process of education must involve not only the patient himself but, in addition, all those entrusted with his care. Just as his parent is the allergic child's most important person in his home, so his teacher is the most important person in his school. The parents must cooperate freely with their child's teacher in providing all the necessary information about his allergies. Similarly, the teacher, like the parent, must be alerted to warning symptoms of distress so that proper medications can be administered early. The schoolteacher should be provided with the telephone numbers of the mother's home, the father's business, and the child's physician, so that someone responsible can be contacted if a major problem arises.