How to Prevent Your Child With Asthma From Bullying

Black children are five times more likely to be admitted to the hospital due to asthma complications, which can often cause bullies to zero in on them because they are perceived as weak or different.

One in 10 children with asthma say they have been bullied or teased as a result of their condition, but tight asthma control seems to keep bullying at bay, a new study suggests.

"Children with well-controlled asthma are less likely to have asthma attacks or end up in the hospital, and they are also less likely to report asthma-related bullying or teasing," study author Dr. Will Carroll says. He's a pediatric respiratory medicine specialist at University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. "Bullying and teasing can have significant, long-term consequences. We should all do our bit to help prevent it."

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What the study shows

For the study, Carroll and his team analyzed interviews conducted during a survey (dubbed Room to Breathe) with nearly 950 kids in six countries and their parents or caregivers. Kids were asked if they had ever been teased or bullied because of their asthma, and parents were asked to describe how worried they were about their child's health.

The researchers also assessed the kids' asthma control using various scoring methods.

Children whose asthma symptoms were well-controlled were almost half as likely to report being bullied or teased compared to kids whose asthma symptoms were poorly controlled, the study findings showed.

Asthma-related bullying or teasing was also three times more likely among those who described their asthma as "quite bad" or "very bad."

As a result of bullying or fear of bullying, children with asthma were 74% more likely to report sitting out of activities. These same kids were also more likely to say that their parents were overly worried about their health.

How to help your child with asthma

The message for kids with asthma: "You are not alone," Carroll says. "Bullying and teasing about asthma are common, but not right. Tell your parents, teachers, or asthma doctor or nurse."

Getting better control over asthma and preventing flares is important for these kids physically and mentally, he adds.

Parents also have an important role to play, Carroll notes.

"Make sure your child knows how to use their preventive inhaler, and ask them how they think their asthma affects them. You might be surprised," he shares. Treating asthma involves avoiding any known triggers, taking medication as directed, and sometimes using rescue inhalers that open airways quickly to stave off an attack.

The findings mirror what psychologist Linda Herbert sees and hears in her practice. She is the director of the psychosocial clinical program in the department of allergy and immunology at Children's National in Washington, D.C.

"Kids are routinely bullied for medical illnesses, including those that make them look or appear different such as allergies and asthma," Herbert says.

Kids need to know that this is not OK, she shares. Those who are bullied are at risk for anxiety, depression and poor self-esteem. They are also less likely to do the things they should do to stay healthy.

"There needs to be improved communication with adults so they can help navigate what's happening and take steps to address bullying at school," Herbert notes.

Sometimes a little troubleshooting goes a long way to help kids with asthma stand out less, she adds.

"It may be possible to modify something so that they can participate more fully while making differences less visible," Herbert says. For example, kids may be able to take medication privately in the nurse's office before gym class if exercise is a known trigger for asthma attacks.

What to do if your child is being bullied

If your child was bullied, the important thing to do is remain calm and figure out the best way to proceed whether it's contacting the school, contacting the bully's parents or simply providing support.

Here are some tips on how to get the conversation started with your child provided by stopbullying.gov:

Has this happened before? Are you worried it will happen again?
What will make you feel safer?
This isn’t your fault. No one deserves to be bullied no matter what was said or done.
Can I reach out to the school/teacher to talk to them about it?
Can we come up with some things you can do if it happens again?

For more information on how to talk to your child about bullying, visit stopbullying.gov.