Every fall, children with asthma face a predictable — and preventable — surge in flare-ups as school resumes. The culprits are a perfect storm of triggers: crowded classrooms, circulating respiratory viruses, classroom allergens like formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds, and the all-too-common habit of pausing maintenance therapy over the summer.

Experts from the Gregory Pariente Foundation are calling on healthcare providers to act early — recommending flu vaccination before mid-October and prompt resumption of controller medications. A physician's explicit recommendation remains one of the strongest drivers of parental vaccine acceptance, making every clinical encounter a critical opportunity.

By the Numbers:

• 135% increase in ER visits (1,968 additional visits) during France's 2025 national peak in week 37 (Sept. 8–14)
• 111% rise in urgent physician calls (307 additional procedures) during the same period
• Children with asthma infected by a respiratory virus are 3x more likely to experience severe exacerbations
• Asthmatic children hospitalized for flu face a 40% higher risk of pneumonia and a 3x higher pneumonia mortality rate (0.9% vs. 0.3%)

Why it matters: The back-to-school asthma surge is highly predictable, yet largely preventable. Timely flu vaccination, early restart of maintenance therapy, and basic hygiene practices can significantly reduce hospitalizations and life-threatening complications in vulnerable children.