Millions of Americans suffer from asthma, a chronic medical condition that commonly occurs during early childhood or mid-adulthood. Children who have asthma often develop their first symptoms before they reach the age of 5. As with many medical conditions, genetics and environmental exposure play a role in the development of asthma.
USA Today recently published some startling statistics about asthma:
“A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by breathing disorders, asthma afflicts 18.7 million adults and 7 million children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the numbers are going up.
The CDC says the number of Americans diagnosed with asthma increased by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009, most steeply among black children, who are more likely to live in areas with greater pollution and environmental toxins. There were nearly 480,000 asthma-related hospitalizations in 2009, 1.2 million outpatient visits, 1.9 million emergency room visits, and 3,388 asthma-associated deaths. The CDC estimated health care costs related to those asthma incidents at $56 billion.”
If your child has asthma, then you need to arm yourself with critical information about how to achieve optimal control of this condition. Here are a few frequently asked questions about children’s asthma.
How can asthma be cured?
There is no known cure for asthma. Children may seem to be “cured” of their symptoms as they grow up and their lungs mature, yet the factors that made them asthma-prone can still be present.
Will my child outgrow his/her asthma?
Most of the time, a child with asthma will outgrow the symptoms as the lungs develop and the body gets tougher. However, a child who has eczema (a skin condition characterized by dry skin, redness and itching), has a family history of allergies, or gets exposed to cigarette smoke within the home is more likely to experience persistent asthma symptoms.
What about school?
You may want to work closely with your Lone Tree pediatrician and school personnel to keep your child’s asthma in check. Let your child’s teacher know about the condition and make arrangements to ensure that your child takes their required medication on time while in school.
The importance of an asthma action plan
At Lone Tree Pediatrics we can design an Asthma Action Plan personally tailored for your child, so whoever is caring for your child will know what steps to take should asthma symptoms arise. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can visit your trusted pediatrician in Lone Tree who can create one.
(Source: States battle asthma as numbers grow, USA Today, Apr. 16, 2014)
About Debra Berry
