Public health 5-19 - health conditions - long-term conditions
We need to ensure that all children and young people with medical conditions, in terms of both physical and mental health are properly supported in school so that they can play a full and active role in school life, remain healthy and achieve their academic potential.
Allergies
An allergic reaction occurs when the body's immune system over-reacts on contact with normally harmless substances. Allergic person's immune system treats certain substances as threats and releases a substance called histamine to defend the body against them.
The release of histamine can cause the body to produce a range of mild to severe symptoms. An allergic response can develop after touching, swallowing, tasting, eating or breathing in a particular substance.
Examples include nuts (especially peanuts), fish and shellfish, milk and eggs. Reactions can also occur with insect stings and natural rubber latex.
Anaphylaxis
The good news is that even the most severe form of allergy (anaphylaxis) is very manageable.
The vast majority of the children affected are happily accommodated in mainstream schools thanks to good communication among parents, school staff, doctors and education authorities. With sound precautionary measures and support from the staff, school life may continue as normal for all concerned.
Useful Links
RCPCH Anaphylaxis pathway (PDF 505KB)
Allergy UK
The leading medical charity for people with allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity
BBC bite size clip to teach children
Lifeline care and support in anaphylaxis
NHS Choices Anaphylaxis information
Allergy UK Egg allergy factsheet (PDF 196KB)
Allergy UK Five key things to learn leaflet (PDF 234KB)
Food Standards Agency Advice on food allergen labelling leaflet (PDF 340KB)
Allergy UK Why is allergy increasing factsheet (PDF 190KB)
Devices
Education for Health free online training for schools Emerade how to use
Staff training resources
Anapyhlaxis powerpoint (PPT 2MB)
PH 5-19 Anaphylaxis Training power point with audio
Schools play a major role in ensuring a safe environment for children and young people with asthma. This section includes guidance and practical resources to support schools to care for children with asthma. We have created resources for use within schools but BeatAsthma now have an excellent website with practical downloadable resources to help provide a whole school approach to asthma.
Pathways
PH 5-19 Asthma Pathway (PDF 422k)
PH 5-19 Asthma Training Powerpoint
Care Plans
Asthma Care Plan South Cumbria (PDF 443KB)
Asthma Care Plan Secondary South Cumbria (PDF 383KB)
Wheeze Care Plan South Cumbria (PDF 524KB)
SCHOOL LETTERS
Letter 1 to parent (emergency inhaler used)
Letter 2 to parent (emergency inhaler used for the 2nd time)
Letter 3 to Doctor (liaison with doctor that emergency inhaler has been used)
Letter 4 End of term letter to parent (suggesting a asthma review in the holidays)
Letter 5 Pharmacy letter (to order medication and equipment)
EMERGENCY INHALER KIT
Emergency Kit Inventory (PDF 149KB)
Emergency Kit monitoring sheet (PDF 217KB)
Emergency recognition treatment (PDF 198KB)
Children permitted to use emergency inhaler record sheet (PDF 198KB)
Emergency inhaler record sheet (PDF 203KB)
How to help a child use a spacer (PDF 474KB)
How to recognise an asthma attack (PDF 448KB)
USEFUL DOCUMENTS
Cumbria County Council Managing Asthma in Schools
DoH Emergency inhalers in school (PDF 480KB)
USEFUL LINKS
Inhaler and spacer technique videos from Asthma UK useful website for resources please scroll down the page for the videos
www.beatasthma.co.uk website with lots of information and resources for parents, schools and young people
Supporting Children's Health an Edcuation for Health resource - free asthma module online training for anyone who works with children
Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children and young people. In England and Wales 17 children in 100,000 develop diabetes each year.
Diabetes is a condition where there is an imbalance between the insulin and the glucose in the human body.
Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, enables cells to absorb glucose (sugar) in order to turn it into energy.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough, or does not properly respond to, insulin.
This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood leading to various potential complications.
Useful Links:
Diabetes UK Diabetes care plan example (PDF 659KB)
Diabetes UK Diabetes primary school assembly presentation (PDF 2MB)
Diabetes UK Diabetes secondary school assembly presentation (PDF 1.5MB)
Diabetes UK Diabetes staff presentation ( PDF 1.8MB)
Epilepsy is a very individual condition so how it affects a child's education can vary. Knowing as much as possible a child's epilepsy can help you to make decisions with them about their education.
Because epilepsy varies so much from person to person, it can be helpful to find out as much as possible about epilepsy to understand how their condition might affect their learning.
Our downloadable resources and useful information will help teachers who have a child with epilepsy in their class. Find out about adjustments you may need to make, how their epilepsy might affect their learning and what you may need to do if they have a seizure.
Useful Links:
Epilepsy care plan prompt questions (PDF 90KB)
Epilepsy Action Epilepsy checklist for school trips (PDF 66KB)
Epilepsy Action Epilepsy health care plan (PDF 85KB)
Epilepsy information booklet (PDF 1.5MB)
Free Epilepsy awareness training course for schools