Finding the “triggers”

When nine-year-old Octavia Bailey is playing hard, she has an unusual problem that other kids don’t have. 

She has to decide whether she’s just out of breath or having an asthma attack. 

Octavia was diagnosed as having asthma when she was 2 1/2. But, with help from a unique local health program, she is learning how to avoid asthma attacks. This has enabled her to enjoy activities that are normal for kids her age. 

Asthma is one of the fastest growing health problems for youngsters in the metro St. Louis area. But, with proper preventive care, many children keep their illness under control and lead full, active lives. 

Last month, she took part in an Adventure Club day-camp activity sponsored by the Ferguson-Florissant Schools. That involved physical activity such as kickball and hikes in a nearby park.

She’s also able to participate in soccer and basketball at her school. She’ll be a fourth grader this fall at Townsend Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District. 

Like lots of kids, she rides her bike a lot in her north St. Louis County neighborhood. 

The key to managing her asthma is a daily routine that includes checking how her lungs are working. She blows into a “peak flow” meter first thing in the morning and again at night before bed. 

The meter tells her how much air is getting in and out of her lungs. If the air flow is diminished, she knows she might have an asthma attack coming. Asthma causes passages in the lungs to get smaller, cutting down the amount of air. 

With the help of a doctor, Octavia worked to determine what things “trigger” an asthma attack. She said some of her “triggers” are excessive dust and pollen. 

But, another problem can be when she catches a cold. That happens often when there is a change in the weather in the spring or fall. 

Octavia’s mother, Sharon Delarouche, said, “I admit I’m a little overprotective when the seasons change. At the first sign of a cold, I’m on the phone to the doctor arranging for special asthma treatment.” 

But, otherwise, Octavia is given freedom to be a normal young kid. 

She said, “My mother tells me ‘not to say can’t’ and ‘believe in myself.’”

The key to keeping the asthma under control is to have a preventative plan. And Octavia is the first one to feel an attack coming on. 

Ms. Delarouche is a health-care worker at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Her family’s health plan is with Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield. That group has a special public health nurse who helps families plan ways to avoid asthma attacks. 

The plan helps Octavia understand her asthma. It also includes training for the nurse at Octavia’s school about her special needs. Octavia has another prevention kit at the school. 

In addition to the “peak flow” meter checking, Octavia also carries inhalers with two types of medication. These help open her air passages at the first sign of reduced air flow. 

The family also has a special “nebulizer” that gives stronger medication if her air flow drops into the meter’s “red zone.”

All this preventive care helped Octavia cut down to nine the days she missed school last year. By missing less classes, she was able to earn honor roll status last year.

As she gets older, her play and sports activities are getting more vigorous. Thus, she has to learn even more about her asthma. “Now, I have to learn the difference between being out or breath and having an asthma attack,” she said. 

That’s another part of learning how to cope with her asthma to allow her to lead a full life.