The child with asthma at school: Results from a national asthma survey among schoolchildren in Israel

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate school absence and restriction in school activities of children with asthma, and to estimate the involvement of the school staff in asthma disabilities. Methods A modified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written questionnaire was administered to a national sample of 13–14-year-old schoolchildren across Israel. Questions regarding social and demographic factors, school absence owing to asthma symptoms, and school staff involvement were added. Results There were 10,057 complete questionnaires available for analysis; 710 children reported having asthma. Children with asthma were absent on the average 7.3 ± 9.8 days in the past school year compared with 3.9 ± 6.3 days in children without ( p = .0001). Absenteeism owing to respiratory symptoms was significantly more common in children with asthma and associated with a more severe asthmatic condition. Four percent of the children with asthma were absent from school more than 30 days. Of the children reporting asthma, 25.9% were not allowed to participate in one or more school activities for medical reasons, compared with 4.2% of children without asthma. Of the children with asthma, 44.3% reported that the school nurse knew about their asthma, and only 13.8% reported that the nurse discussed their asthmatic condition with them; 38.2% of children with asthma reported that no one at school knew about their illness. Conclusions Children with asthma are absent annually on average 3.4 days more than children without asthma. School absence is associated with the severity of asthma. A significant percentage of asthmatic children participate less in school activities. School staff awareness of the children illness is not satisfactory.