Jack's battle with asthma

11:00pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

DUST, pollen, pollution - they are allowed to circle freely in our environment yet they are potential killers if you are an asthma sufferer.

Known as triggers, these invisible irritants cause the sufferer's airways to become narrower and irritated, making it difficult to breathe and leading to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest - the classic symptoms of asthma.

The condition affects 5.2 million people in the UK and 1.1 million children.

Southend High School for Boys pupil Jack Stephenson, 14, is severely asthmatic. Exposure to anything from grass, pollen, and dust can trigger an attack, leaving him fighting for breath.

Yet thanks to mum Sharon he leads as normal a life as possible.

"It is all about planning," says Sharon, "I was determined he was not going to be different, that he could do all the things other children can.

"Breathing is something that is taken for granted, but with asthma you can't take it for granted. It is a very sad condition, but you have to learn to live with it."

Jack was diagnosed as asthmatic at the age of one, and severely asthmatic at the age of five, meaning most things in the environment put him at risk of an attack.

It means he can't play his first love - football - outdoors, but has adapted instead to become a keen hockey player as Sharon is keen for him to keep active as it can help his breathing.

To limit this Sharon must wet' dust the family home in Walton Road, Thorpe Bay twice and day and cannot use any chemicals to clean.

The family have even installed a room in the loft for Jack which has climate control features which help filter out any dust.

"Whatever we do and wherever we go I have to pave the way to ensure it is OK," says Sharon.

"I live by my phone and I can never relax."

"It is not an easy condition," she admits, "but I am tremendously proud of the way Jack copes with it. He is a big boy with a big smile and he is an inspiration."

Sharon is given support in her care for Jack from Alison Davies, asthma and allergy specialist at South East Essex Primary Care Trust.

She says: "Most people have more than one trigger which can set off an attack, and the key is to try to pinpoint those triggers and avoid them where possible.

"It is not always that easy, but by being aware, people can limit the risk. There is also medication available in the form of inhalers which can help to open the airways and restore breathing."

No cause has yet been found for asthma, but according to Alison it runs in families and sufferers are more likely to also have allergies and excema.

"One in ten children have asthma to varying degrees, but it should not stop them from doing things as long as it is managed," she insists.

"With the right, help and advice they should not be disadvantaged in anyway."

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