An expert advised teachers to watch for warning signs that need urgent medical attention, such as difficulty speaking normally, blue-tinged lips, or no improvement after using a reliever inhaler.
For a child with asthma, a sudden coughing spell or difficulty breathing during a Physical Education (PE) class can quickly become concerning, particularly when teachers are uncertain about how to respond.
Doctors in the UAE are encouraging parents to ensure their child’s school has a clear and updated asthma action plan. The plan should outline known triggers, warning signs and symptoms, prescribed medication, and guidance on when emergency medical assistance should be sought.
The recommendation is supported by a multicentre study published in PubMed, titled Prevalence of Asthma and Allergies Among Children in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study. The research found that asthma affected 11.9 per cent of children aged 6–7 and 9.8 per cent of those aged 13–14.
The study included 3,436 pupils from government and private schools across Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Participants were recruited through school registers between March and June 2019.
Wheezing, one of the most common symptoms of asthma, was reported in 44.2 per cent of younger children and 33.1 per cent of those aged 13–14.
Teachers need to know when it’s an emergency
Dr Mohamed Elgezouli, Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) and Specialist in Family Medicine at Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Hospital in Sharjah, stressed that children must have quick access to their reliever inhalers, especially when physical activity triggers their symptoms.
“It’s essential. A child having exercise-induced symptoms needs their reliever inhaler within minutes, not after a search through an office or locked cupboard. Teachers should know that coughing, wheezing, or breathlessness during or shortly after activity is common in asthma, and that pausing the activity and using the inhaler early usually prevents worsening.”
Teachers should also be able to identify warning signs that require immediate medical attention, Dr Elgezouli said. These include difficulty speaking normally, visible pulling of the chest or neck muscles while breathing, blue-tinged lips, extreme tiredness, or symptoms that fail to improve after using a reliever inhaler.
“If any of these appear, the teacher should give the inhaler again as directed, stay calm and with the child, and call emergency services immediately.”
Asthma action plan
Dr Mohammed Harriss, Consultant Pulmonology at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, said parents should make sure school staff are familiar with their child’s individual asthma pattern.
“This should include the child’s usual symptoms and triggers, the medicines they use, how and when their reliever inhaler should be taken, and any previous history of severe attacks if relevant.”
He explained that an asthma action plan gives teachers and other school staff clear instructions on how to manage a child’s condition and respond when symptoms develop or worsen.
“An asthma action plan provides a simple, practical guide for managing the child’s asthma at school. It should outline the child’s regular treatment, early warning signs, what to do if symptoms worsen, when to use their reliever inhaler, and when urgent medical help should be sought. The plan should be shared with the relevant school staff and reviewed regularly, particularly if the child’s treatment or symptoms change.”
Medical experts emphasised that keeping this information easily accessible can help both pupils and teachers feel more confident about managing asthma safely at school.
Dr Suha Alsheikh Suleiman, Specialist Pulmonology at Burjeel Medical Center, Al Shamkha, similarly highlighted several warning signs that require urgent attention. These include severe or worsening breathlessness, difficulty speaking, significant distress, blue or grey lips, drowsiness, or confusion.
“The teacher should follow the child’s asthma action plan, assist with the prescribed medication as directed, stay with the child and call emergency medical services if the child is severely struggling to breathe or is not improving.”
