Asthma is a serious medical condition, in all age groups and all year round. However, research has shown that Australian school children are at especially high risk of an acute asthma attack about this time of year. And indications are that it's all related to going back to school.

Statistics show a higher rate of emergency visits and hospitalisation among children with asthma during February compared with all other months.

According to Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Senior Environmental Health Policy Officer with NSW Health, data collected since 1993 show these peaks in asthma prevalence occur every two or three years. In NSW for example the worst years recently have been 1996, 1999 and 2001.

"Currently we are unable to predict which years an asthma peak is likely to occur and therefore it is vital that parents of children with asthma are aware of the potential increase risk," said Dr Sheppeard.

Of course, parents have a special responsibility. They need to keep communications open between school and their family and to make sure the school is "asthma friendly" so that staff are sufficiently trained to handle an asthma emergency.

It is important also that parents monitor their children's asthma, ensure they take their preventer medications as prescribed, and that they always carry their reliever medication with them.

Asthma affects one child in six and is the most common medical condition for school children in Australia. Not surprisingly, it's a common cause of school absenteeism.

Meanwhile, allergist and immunologist, Associate Professor Raymond Mullins from the University of Canberra has warned against alternative tests and therapies in people with asthma and allergies. He said there are potentially dangerous consequences, particularly for children.

Professor Mullins said that so-called Vega testing was probably the most common allergy test, but results were not comparable with conventional allergy testing. Other questionable diagnostic methods according to Professor Mullins included iridology and cytotoxic food testing.

In an interview with Australian Doctor magazine, Professor Mullins said, "When these tests have been subjected to proper study there is no evidence that they are any more useful than throwing a dart at a dart-board." He was especially critical of practitioners who put young children on very restricted diets without supervision by a dietitian.

Nevertheless, typical teenage behaviour at home might lessen the adverse health effects of dust mites. House dust mites thrive in a moist warm environment. Inside pillows, mattresses and tucked away beneath the sheets, provide ideal living quarters. Dr Stephen Pretlove from Kingston University in London reckons "something as simple as leaving the bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and die".

Sounds like Dr Pretlove is one of the first scientists to research the health benefits of a messy bed.

You can get somewhat tidier advice on the effective management of asthma and hay fever from Castletown Chemist.

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