Tallaght Hospital Invites Parents to Asthma Information Evening
Ireland has the 4th highest rate of asthma worldwide. Since 1995 prevalence of asthma in 13-14 year old school children has increased by 40% and it is now the most common chronic disease in Ireland. Asthma is also the most common respiratory condition. Tallaght Hospital is running a series of free talks to provide parents with information on the 16th of January at 6:30pm in the Hospital’s Education Centre.
Topics discussed on the night will include:
- Asthma Diagnosis in Children
- Inhaler Devices
- Asthma Action Plans
- Managing Asthma Triggers/Allergies
Speakers on the night will include: Dr Basil Elnazir: Paediatric Respiratory Consultant, Catherine Carrig: Paediatric Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Mary Devitt: Paediatric Respiratory Nurse Specialist and Mary McDonald: Paediatric Respiratory Advanced Nurse Practitioner Candidate. There will then be an opportunity for parents to have any questions they might have answered.
Asthma can start at any age, although about half of all people with asthma have had their first symptoms by the age of 10, and many children with asthma have had their first asthma attack before the age of 6. There are approximately 5,500 asthma-related hospital admissions per year with annual Emergency Department visits being estimated at four times this figure. Around 55% of these admissions and visits are by children under 14 years of age. Tallaght Hospital believes these talks will provide the parents with help, support and information about how to effectively manage asthma in children.
ENDS
For further information please contact Laoise O’ Murchu, Communications Manager, Tallaght Hospital, Tel (01) 4145918.
