Children, Asthma and Coronavirus

[Dirtystreetpie]

Hi,

Has anyone read anything of any use regarding guidelines for a child with asthma and whether they are being recommended to self isolate due to the virus? So far I can’t find anything other than adults and elderly. Seems to be a black hole regarding children and advice

[MarieQueenofScots]

Glad I saw your post as I have been wondering the same.

Even guideliness from Asthma UK aren't clear.

[Dirtystreetpie]

Same here, have checked everywhere and there is no advice at all. I have read though that the NHS will be contacting everyone who is considered a risk due to a health condition on 23rd March to advise further

[DuckonaBike]

Been wondering the same, and also saw the message about NHS contacting people. It mentioned "severe asthma" as a relevant health condition. Don't know what counts as severe. After all, asthma is pretty common.

[PumpkinP]

Worried too as ds has mild asthma

[Dirtystreetpie]

This is best I have found so far

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/parenting/coronavirus-asthma-kids.amp.html

[ColumboOnTheCase]

Sorry for the long link but I have been looking into this as my ds has asthma and surprised I can find so little. The following gov link implies I think that under 70’s with chronic asthma should be practicing social distancing

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

[TabbyMumz]

How is there no advice? The advice is very clear Anyone over 70 should social distance. Anyone under 70 with the named conditions, of which asthma is at the top should also socially distance for 12 weeks.

[Blueroses99]

Agree with TabbyMumz. The advice for under 70s includes children as there doesn’t need to be separate advice for different ages.

[Historyofeverything1]

Not asthma but autoimmune compromised due to medication my dcs team are recommending continuing to go to school because they're risk of getting it is still low. Even though if they were an adult they would come into a group that should isolate.

[TabbyMumz]

What do you mean by dcs team? Do you mean teachers? Is it a typo?
Ultimately it's your choice as at the moment its guidance.

[tempestterra]

ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):

[Clymene]

Asthmatics who requires steroids or hospital admission should self-isolate. If it's controlled with puffers, you're okay

[Dirtystreetpie]

If people are questioning how can that be clear?

[Shinygoldbauble]

My 13 year old has asthma. Very bad as a younger child, last hospitalization was 5 years ago but out of the blue last summer she had a severe attack.
I'm not confident in the 'controlled by inhalers' thinking. I think with asthma you can be fine til you suddenly aren't.
We are in Ireland. We've been in isolation since Thursday. I'm taking no chances.

[Clymene]

Well the guidance is quite clear:

"There are some clinical conditions which put people at even higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you are in this category, next week the NHS in England will directly contact you with advice the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. For now, you should rigorously follow the social distancing advice in full, outlined below.

People falling into this group are those who may be at particular risk due to complex health problems such as:

people with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets) "

If you feel your child falls into this category, then of course you can decide to socially isolate. The guidance is intended to warn you if in a risk group, not tell you that you can't follow it if you want to, even if you may be on the margins of said risk group.