As children begin returning to school in the next week, the New Zealand Asthma and Respiratory Foundation has warned parents, caregivers and schools to be prepared for a spike in asthma hospitalisations.
Foundation education and research general manager Teresa Demetriou said asthma attacks were particularly common when children went back to school, especially after the long summer holiday.
Studies show viral infections were likely to be the main cause in the spike of asthma hospitalisations.
Other causes included less strict asthma management over the holidays, a change in environment with greater exposure to allergens and increased stress or anxiety, she said.
"Parents are urged to take preventative measures.
"The best thing to do is be as prepared as possible.
"Asthma action plans need to be provided to schools along with updated emergency contact details.
"Children need to be taking their preventer medication as prescribed if they have one, and bring their reliever inhaler to school.
"Make sure your child knows what their triggers are so they can do their best to avoid them. It’s important to reduce exposure to germs, which includes washing hands with soap as needed.
"We also highly recommend all families with asthma to get their flu vaccination in March," she said.
More than 460,000 people take medication for asthma — one in seven of them children.
In 2013, there were 3730 children under 15 in New Zealand, hospitalised for asthma attacks.
