Presented by Mariella Jziggy Cajucom

1. Presented by Mariella Jziggy Cajucom

2. The health of Australia’s youth is good, but there is a range of health issues that influence and impact on youth health and development. Some of the health issue commonly experienced by youth include sun protection, mental health, sexual & reproductive health and road safety.

3. Over 2 million Australians have currently diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is not a rare condition but the most common disease in the world. People with asthma have airways that are inflamed. This means that they swell and produce lots of thick mucus. They are also overly sensitive, or hyperactive, to certain things, like exercise, dust, or cigarette smoke. This hyper reactivity causes the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways to tighten up.

4. How does asthma affect physical development of a child? • It is not the asthma itself that affects physical development but the drugs that the child takes. If a child regularly takes a preventer inhaler containing a steroid e.g. becotide, serotide, beclaforte, flixotide then the steroids in these drugs cause the child not to grow as tall as his peers. Also if they get serious asthma they are given redipred which is a very strong form of steroids and getting several doses of this over winter can affect the child’s growth. • Medical conditions can restrict physical activity (asthma, sickle cell diseases), and thus affect gross motor development. • Children undergoing treatment for disease may lack the energy required to take part in physical exercise.

5. Social & Emotional development • Many children with asthma spend a lot of time at home sick while other children are playing. If a child is not playing with other children, he or she is not learning how to get along with other children. • Chronic sufferers may have overprotective adults, and they miss out becoming independent and affect self-esteem.

6. Intellectual development • Unwell children lack concentration, and drugs for conditions can cause drowsiness. • Repeated school absence can slow learning – though home schooling can help.

7. The trends of asthma • The prevalence of asthma in Australia is relatively high, by international standards • 11.3% of children aged 0 to 15 have asthma • Observations may include that asthma prevalence increases with age among females, but decreases with age for males; and males are more likely to have asthma aged 12–14 years compared to females, but far less likely at age 20–24 years. • Research on the incidence of asthma is difficult to find as most research focuses on the prevalence; however, it is generally considered to be steady or even slightly decreasing.

8. Risk factors of asthma Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and other allergies -- this is the single biggest risk factor; eczema: another type of allergy affecting the skin; and genetic predisposition: a parent, brother, or sister also has asthma.

9. Protective factors • A smoke-free environment should be recommended for all children, and all pregnant and breastfeeding women should be advised not to smoke. • Avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke may reduce the risk of childhood asthma. • Avoidance of commonly allergenic foods during pregnancy or lactation has no effect on the development of childhood asthma • Measures to reduce exposure to dust mite do not appear to decrease the rates of asthma or wheeze in young children. • On current evidence, advising families to avoid exposure to petsis not warranted.

10. Programs for asthma National Asthma Council Australia & Asthma foundation of Australia Is a not profitable organisation, is a site for asthma to inform and educate. They provide with up to date information relating to asthma and allergy, Asthma Helpline on 1800 645 130 (toll free)

11. Rights and Responsibilities Rights for Patients • As a patient or parent of a child with asthma you should insist on the right to immediate care when you or your child are in respiratory distress; the right to intensive treatment until respiratory distress is relieved; the right to treatment measures that will prevent the need for emergency care in the future; and the right to treatment based on accurate and up-to-date medical knowledge about asthma. Responsibilities • You also have responsibilities as a patient or parent of a child with asthma. You should understand what asthma is and what happens when asthma occurs; know the names of your asthma medications, know how your asthma medications work, when to take them, and their possible side effects.