<p>My daughter has asthma. She also has food allergies. How do boarding schools deal with food allergies? Do most health units advise if the child is missing school due to health issues? </p>
<p>Also, if her illness makes it difficult for a roommate (she coughs frequently and throughout the night when her asthma is acute), would they typically separate her from the roommate?</p>
<p>I have no idea if boarding school is even reasonable for asthmatic children.</p>
<p>Cathy</p>
<p>My daughter attends Kent and she is an asthmatic. She keeps her inhalers in her room. When she has a respiratory infection and she is barking like a seal, she will often spend the night in the infirmary. The infirmary is set up with nebulizers (the infirmary has her ampules of albuteral). In the past, the doctor for Kent students has prescribed her antibiotics and prednisone. The infirmary calls us to let us know that she is taking additional medicine. So far, her asthma has not been a problem with her roommate (she is rooming with the same girl next year). She has the option of taking a medical leave for sports, but as of yet, she has chosen to participate in sports.</p>
<p>The workload at boarding school is huge and relentless. Missing classes, assignments, and exams due to health issues will be nearly impossible to make up. Students with health issues usually drown. </p>
<p>Watch out for sports coaches - too many are of the “work through the pain” variety, and will push kids relentlessly. She would need to select PE/sport carefully to not be stuck with a marine-wannabe coach.</p>
<p>Boarding schools rarely have single rooms. </p>
<p>If my daughter had a night barking roommate, I would be on the phone to the housing office in a flash. Your daughter’s health issues should not be having a negative effect on other students. At these prices, your daughter does not get to sub-optomize my investment. Sorry.</p>
<p>Some schools do set up allergy free/nut free stations in the cafeteria - but thoughtless students sometimes play games with these. School cafeterias usually have a lot of choices, but they are not set up to provide specially prepared meals for a select few.</p>
<p>The appropriateness of a boarding school is probably a function of severity of her situation. Although we all want to be kind and understanding, the fact is that the spot that your daughter takes, and then washes out, is a spot that could have gone to someone else.</p>
<p>I think the only real answer can be given by the school you are considering. Most admissions folks are well trained and happy to discuss special issues. I strongly suggest you call the school and discuss with them.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why toadstool says boarding schools rarely have single rooms, because at least one I know has many single rooms available for every grade. A health issue can be used to get a particular kind of room (I know that’s true of getting into a dorm with an elevator, not sure how a school would handle asthma and noise issues).</p>
<p>And as for food allergies, I’d talk to schools about it, as Zippy suggests. There’s so much to choose from at the schools I’ve eaten (one tiny, one large) that it seems it should be easy to accomodate, but it could depend on the extent of the allergy (e.g., if a peanut can’t be in the building, then you will be out of luck). </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My daughter has severe environmental allergies which can become asthmatic. Her room mate is fine through barking coughs. Make sure her inhalers are in her room and that the medical center and dorm parents are aware of the issues. My daughter does theater instead of sports - not because of asthma but because of a vision issue which interferes with depth perception.
I think the most important thing is to make sure your daughter adovocates for herself, immediately asks for help when she needs it, and is comfortable discussing her health issues.
Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you all for responding. I know now that this ailment is common. In addition to my question here, I only emailed Exeter. Here is their response:</p>
<p>Hello XXXX,</p>
<p>We deal with many students with varying types (triggers) and degrees of asthma. As a matter of fact it is probably one of the most common conditions that we deal with. We do however fully understand and appreciate the potential seriousness of the issue. We have a Physician Assistant who meets with our asthmatic students at the beginning of the academic year where she goes over triggers, treatment plans, etc. and stresses the importance of the students seeking the help of the professionals at the health center if at all possible before in crisis. We have registered nurses on staff 24 hours per day and an MD in house or on call 24 hours per day. We have a nebulizer and albuterol as well as emergency medications in the health center. We contract with a pharmacy so students can have meds filled and refilled through the health center and these meds are delivered daily. We also stock albuterol and steroid inhalers at the health center.</p>
<p>If you have any further questions or concers, please feel free to contact me directly.</p>
<p>Best Regards,</p>
<p>Nancy C. Thompson, RN
Director of Nursing
Lamont Health and Wellness Center
Phillips Exeter Academy</p>
<p>That’s great they have a PA working on the asthma action plans! PAs are the best! ;)</p>
<p>Sorry to be replying so late to this thread. I can only speak for our experience at Andover. Our d has asthma and is also a vegetarian. Both needs have been accommodated in non-intrusive ways. I’m sure most BS are well used to dealing with these issues. I would not worry!</p>