Asthma

Asthma, characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing, is the most common serious chronic disease of childhood. Close to five million children in the United States have asthma. It is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism, and results in lost nights of sleep and disruption of family routines. For children, asthma symptoms can interfere with school and extracurricular activities; children may try to limit or avoid physical activities to prevent coughing or wheezing. Asthma can be managed, but parents, teachers and health care providers all need to be involved.

In infants and children, asthma may appear as cough, rapid or noisy breathing in and out, or chest congestion, without the other symptoms seen in adults. The most common cause of asthma is allergy: 90 percent of children who have asthma are allergic. Management includes protecting children from irritants such as tobacco smoke, which causes chronic irritation of the airways, and other allergens. Doctors may prescribe specific medications and devices, including peak flow meters to measure breathing, metered dose inhalers, nebulizers, dry powder inhalers, or oral medications. Parents and children must learn how to use these correctly. Often, childhood asthma symptoms seem to resolve, but they may flare up again later in life.

For more information:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
(800) 822-2762
www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/fastfacts/asthma.stm

Allergy and Asthma Network/ Mothers of Asthmatics
(800)878-4403
www.aanma.org

American Lung Association
(800) LUNG-USA
www.lungusa.org

06/06