Wait.... So my kid has asthma, now what?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways become inflamed, narrow, swell, and can produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. During an exacerbation patients typically experience repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,it affects approximately 6 million children in the United States alone and is the single most common chronic lung disease in children. Though you may only experience an asthma exacerbation when it is stimulated by a trigger, once an individual has asthma, he or she has it all the time.

Asthma is a disorder of the airways characterized by periods of airflow obstruction known as an asthma exacerbation or asthma attacks, which is reversible. Asthma attacks are caused by contraction of the muscles surrounding the airways and inflammation of the airways, which leads to airflow obstruction. While there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled by learning and avoiding triggers. As well as proper management with medications as prescribed by the primary care provider.

After completing this assignment, parents and or guardians will be able to:

• Define Asthma
• Identify 5 symptoms of an asthma exacerbation.
• List 2 ways to treat an asthma exacerbation.
• List 6 common triggers of an asthma exacerbation.
• Answer 5/5 questions correctly from the quiz below.

Test Your Knowledge

1. True or False: Common triggers are tobacco smoke, pollen, dust and mold?

1. True
2. False

2.True or False: My child was recently diagnosed with asthma. He or She will not be able to do the things that other kids can and may not be able to lead an active childhood.

1. True
2. False

3. True or False: It is important to know my child's asthma triggers and educate my child on triggers as well?

1. True
2. False

4. True or False: My child will outgrow his or her asthma when they become an adult?

1. True
2. False

5. What should be done to ensure proper management of asthma?

1. Taking your asthma medication as prescribed by your health care provider
2. Reducing your exposure to asthma triggers
3. Monitoring your asthma symptoms
4. All of the above

Use the following resources to obtain crucial information regarding asthma to teach to pediatric patients and or guardian:

The Center for Disease Control

https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm

Asthma " Here For Every Breath "

https://www.asthma.com/understanding-asthma/asthma-triggers/

Kids Health

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/asthma-mgmt.html

Healthy Children

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/Medications-Used-to-Treat-Asthma.aspx

All information provided is accessible online with some websites offering read aloud options. All information can also be printed  for review at later time to prevent information overload also to make notes or write questions that can later be asked at follow up appointments.

Understanding what asthma is, symptoms of an asthma exacerbation, and proper management of asthma is important to ensure proper management of children diagnosed with asthma. If parents and or guardians are able to identify triggers, then potentially asthma exacerbation can be avoided and or proper treatment implemented as soon as possible to prevent a potentially fatal even from occurring.

Medications to treat asthma in children. HealthyChildren.org. (n.d.). https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allerg…

Elidemir, O. (Ed.). (2019, February). Managing asthma (for parents) - nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/asthma-mgmt.html

What triggers asthma? Asthma.com. (n.d.). https://www.asthma.com/understanding-asthma/asthma-triggers/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 1). Learn how to control asthma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm