What every parent needs to know about Childhood Asthma

1. Allies Against Asthma CINCH What every parent needs to know about ChildhoodAsthma This program is brought to you by Allies Against Asthma, a workgroup of the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), to improve the quality of life for children with asthma in Hampton Roads. Disclaimer: Healthy Kids Kit for Asthma is an educational tool created with the purpose of sharing facts about asthma in our communities. It does not attempt to provide medical advice.

2. Asthma in the U.S. • Asthma has been diagnosed in over 31 million people in the U.S. • Asthma rates are higher among African Americans and children 0 -17 years of age • Asthma is a leading cause of school absences Reference: Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, “Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality, 2000-2001”.

3. Asthma in the U.S. • Asthma is expensive • In 2000, 1.8 million emergency room visits and about 465,000 hospitalizations were due to asthma • Nearly 5,000 people died of asthma in 2000. Reference: Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, “Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality, 2000-2001”.

4. Asthma in Hampton Roads • In 1998, over 55,000 people were diagnosed with asthma1 • Almost 20,000 (or 36%) of those diagnosed were children under the age of 181 • In 1999, over 2,000 people were hospitalized due to asthma2 • 943 (or 43.5%) of those hospitalized were children2 Reference: 1. American Lung Association Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Lung Disease by Lung Association Territory, April 2001. 2. Virginia Asthma Coalition Asthma Data: Hampton Roads Virginia Health Districts http://lungusa.org/virginia/vac/state_hampton.html

5. Did you know … • Asthma is a physical condition • People who suffer from allergies are more likely to have asthma • You cannot “catch” asthma from another person

6. Did you know … • Children and adults die of asthma every year • Children do not outgrow asthma • Asthma cannot be cured but it can be controlled • Children with asthma need to see their doctor regularly, even if they are feeling well

7. Reference: Illustration used with permission from John F. Hunt, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Faculty, Asthma and Allergic Disease Center, Children’s Medical Center of the University of Virginia.

8. Reference: Illustration used with permission from John F. Hunt, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Faculty, Asthma and Allergic Disease Center, Children’s Medical Center of the University of Virginia.

9. Asthma Triggers

10. Early Warning Signs • Coughing • Feeling tired • Itchy-watery eyes • Runny-stuffy nose • Headache

11. Symptoms • Wheezing • Persistent cough • Shortness of breath • Chest soreness-tightness

12. Controlling Asthma • Know and avoid triggers • Take asthma medication as directed • Do not smoke in the house • Visit your doctor every 3 to 6 months • Children with asthma, and their regular caregivers, should get a flu shot every year

13. Asthma Medication There are two types of asthma medicine: Relievers are taken as needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms. Controllers are taken every day to prevent symptoms from starting.

14. When to Call Your Doctor • Missing school more than twice a month • Unable to participate in regular physical activity • Symptoms get worse • Coughing at night • Needing reliever medication every day for more than 2 days and not getting better

15. Information to Share • Medical condition, such as asthma • What medications the child is taking • When to give medications • Where to reach parent or guardian • Emergency instructions, for example child’s doctor name and number