Asthma
Asthma is a life threatening, chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. Children who have asthma describe it as feeling like "trying to breathe through a straw." Children with asthma have airways that are almost always red and sensitive (inflamed). These airways can react badly when someone with asthma has a cold or other viral infection or comes into contact with an asthma trigger.
With proper diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures, children living with asthma can experience a greater quality of life.
The Valley Air District reports that 17 percent of children in the valley are diagnosed with asthma compared to the low number of five percent nationwide. In Kern County, more than 11,000 children have been diagnosed with asthma. According to the Kern County Department of Public, asthma is the primary health-related reason children are absent from Kern County schools. More...
RESOURCES
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Students
- BAM! Body and Mind, Website for Kids with Asthma
Parents
- Is it asthma? A guide for parents.
- Diagnosing Asthma: What to expect.
- Asthma and Schools
- Asthma attack: When does a child need immediate medical attention?
- Back to School With Asthma
- How Asthma-Friendly Is Your School?
- Asthma Management in Children Age 5 and Under
- Teens & Asthma
Child Care Providers
- Caring for Children with Allergies and Asthma
- How Asthma-Friendly Is Your Child-Care Setting?
RESEARCH/DATA
- California County Asthma Hospitalization Chart Book - August 2000
A report produced by the California Department of Health Services which includes county hospitalization discharge data from 1995-1997 related to asthma.
- California County Asthma Mortality Chart Book - April 2000
A report produced by the California Department of Health Services that includes county mortality data from 1990-1997 related to asthma.
ORGANIZATIONS
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Local
- American Lung Association, Kern County 661.327.1601
Services also provided to children birth to five years. Find out what triggers attacks, how to prevent attackes, use medication correctly, what symptoms to look for and who to ask for help.
- Asthma Home Visit Project 661.327.1601
Through the project, bilingual outreach workers provide free asthma education and support services to children with asthma and their families. The outreach workers make home visits and teach parents and children tools for asthma management, including early warning signs, environmental triggers, and proper use of medications. Outreach workers provide free spacers and peak flow meters (instruments to help manage asthma), and try to secure free nebulizers for families who cannot afford them. Children and their families are referred to the program through daycare providers and healthcare professionals.
- Kern County Asthma Coalition 661.327.1601
Member meetings held 4th thursday of the month from 12:30 PM to 1:30 P.M.State
- American Lung Association of California
- California Asthma Resource List - Kern County 2002: California Department of Health Services
National
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA)
RELATED BOOKS (Amazon.Com)
- The ABC's of Asthma: An Asthma Alphabet Book for Kids of All Ages
- Taking Asthma to School (Special Kids in Schools)
- I'm Tougher Than Asthma!
- The Lion Who Had Asthma
- Zooallergy: A Fun Story About Allergy and Asthma Triggers
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