Helping students to breathe easier.

• Position: Asthma - Brief Article

For youngsters with chronic diseases, returning to school can disrupt management of their condition. Parents can avert potential problems by learning in-school medication rules and creating an action plan for care of their children in school, indicates Patty Hicks, assistant professor of pediatrics at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "The family should communicate fully with the school nurse so that management of disease and taking medication is as seamless as possible for the child, with the least disruption of school activities," she says.

For students with asthma, many schools use a plan that is custom-tailored to meet each child's medical needs. Under the plan, a peak-flow meter is used to gauge blockage of respiratory passages and...