Before we get to today’s reader response, I’m posting an answer to another reader’s question for everyone’s benefit. Last week, Robert asked,
Is there a distinction made between active asthmatics and those with a dormant condition when it comes to being considered “high risk” for H1N1 infection? I’m a twenty-five-year-old who has suffered no symptoms of asthma and taken no medication for the condition for nearly fifteen years. While I’m ready to line up as soon as the vaccine is made available, I’m not sure if I should consider myself a high risk candidate and, therefore, deprive someone of the limited vaccine who needs it more than I do. All the online literature I’ve found on vaccine policy places asthmatics in one general camp of high risk.
Not only do I not have the medical background to answer your question myself, Robert, but I also didn’t want it to get lost in the comments. So I turned to Dr. Pat Bass, a board certified internist and pediatrician and the Guide for About.com’s asthma page. Here’s what he had to say:
The current guidelines do not make any distinction that I am aware of- so I would recommend follow the current the vaccine guidelines and get the vaccine. While the lack of symptoms for extended periods of time without meds does occur, it does sometimes make me wonder if the person was diagnosed correctly and now inappropriately labeled as an asthmatic.
I hope this helps. And to everyone: go check out the About: Asthma page. It’s good stuff.
Now onto today’s question, also from last week’s comments. This one is Jenny’s:
Does anyone have advice on keeping high school kids’ grades up when they miss so much school?
My kid with asthma has only to keep up with fifth grade-level makeup work, so how about it, guys? Any of you parenting breathing-challenged high schoolers out there? Help another asthma parent out, and leave your tips for her in the comments below.
Hi Amy, Thanks! Regarding Qvar, I wonder about that too. Here’s a medpedia link to a debate on that very topic whe I posed the question.
http://www.medpedia.com/questions/263
Ok this is off topic but I have to vent and I’m sure we’re going to here a whole lot more of this…
A friend of mine in another state was able to get her kids ages 6 and 8 with no underlying conditions h1n1 vaccinations the other day…
In my state I have pregnant friends and my own kids in risk groups and there is no vaccine…
If the supply doesn’t happen soon things are going to get ugly.
Regarding Robert, Isn’t it relatively common for kids to “outgrow” asthma? (Didn’t happen to me tho.) I mean it never actually goes away, but a lot of times it gets milder or goes dormant as their airways get bigger. And I hear it’s more common in guys.
About missing school… when I would get colds as a kid and in high school, I’d miss a week of school for each one and 3 weeks for the flu. It majorly sucked. I don’t really remember how I managed that, except that if at all possible, have your kid do as much school stuff as possible while they’re home sick. Have a friend bring home books and assignments and try to keep up with readings. So that when the kid goes back to school s/he will still be behind, but slightly less so. I personally wasn’t very good at following this advice, being as when I’m sick and weak and spending my time hooked up to the nebulizer, all I want to do is space out in front of the TV. But it’s worth a try.
Steve–That….was a lot of information to digest. (or half-digest, in my case) Thanks!
Karen–Vent away, seriously. That blows. Any word on why your state doesn’t have it at all? I haven’t seen it available where I am, but this weekend the health dept. is running a bunch of free shot clinics for high-risk groups, finally. Not that AG needs it anymore….
Elisheva–I’ve heard/read the same. People who seem to outgrow it are always susceptible, and it tends to happen w/boys more. Unless it was never asthma in the first place and was something that mimics asthma, like RSV.
Elisheva/Amy – This is my understanding as well. I’m surprised at the response from Dr. Bass. Misdiagnosis is an answer that, until now, I hadn’t encountered. I’m certain my condition is (was) asthma and am fortunate to be able to put the medication, attacks, and the resulting late-night trips to the ER behind me, but my susceptibility still concerns me. In the presence of a flu pandemic I guess I should still consider myself an asthmatic. Thanks for your help everyone.
I am having trouble with my child’s school because she has missed so much school. She has Allergies and Asthma an has missed 20 days this year with a note from her doctor for every day missed. The schools says because she is a transfer student she may not be able to transfer next year even with her being an all A student and where we live the schools are not the best so I’ve been paying for her to go out of district . She loves her school and can’t wait to get there in the morning. I feel so bad for her and I want her to keep her love of school and learning so she won’t end up as a dropout like me.