We are all looking forward to the return of children to school.  Hoping you all stay safe and active and are able to enjoy some time in  improving weather.

This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to be proactive in managing your child’s asthma and allergies (hay fever) as the return of school coincides with the hay fever season and it takes many weeks for preventive medication to be effective.

At school during the pandemic we are required to isolate and send home any child with symptoms compatible with Covid-19 (fever, cough , runny nose, sore throat etc). As you can imagine this will be tricky in hay fever season and during the Covid-19 pandemic it will be impossible to know if your child’s runny nose or cough is due to hay fever, asthma, a common cold or Covid-19.

Many of you will have already started your child’s preventer medication for their asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).  You may already be using the Pollen count watch App which can be very helpful in pre-empting hay fever days which are commonly those north windy days.  If your child is prone to thunderstorm asthma this is predominantly due to rye grass allergy. You can choose to receive email alerts on high epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecast days by downloading the Vic Emergency app. 

Please do not send your child to school with any symptoms of Covid-19 as they will be sent home according to the current DHHS coronavirus guidelines. Discuss you child’s allergy and asthma prevention management with your child’s general practitioner.

As always if you have any concerns about your child’s health with their return to school you can contact me via email:  hilda.hallinan@education.vic.gov.au  and  if needed we can arrange a meeting via phone or online.

Helpful information:

Asthma foundations Victoria ‘TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR SPRING WHEN YOU HAVE ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES”

Allergy Australia “Allergic rhinitis allergy plan”

https://www.melbournepollen.com.au/mobile-app/

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/ to receive email alerts on high epidemic thunderstorm forecast days

RCH  >  Kids Health Information  >  Fact sheets  >  Hay fever

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

(COVID-19). Common symptoms include:

• Fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of  sense of smell or taste.

If anybody has any symptoms, they should get tested and stay home until they receive their test results. It does not matter how mild the symptoms are.