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Asthma in Philadelphia

• 1 in 8 children in Philadelphia has asthma. That
  is more than 51,000 children.
• In Philadelphia, African American and Latino
  children have the highest percent of asthma
  cases.
• Certain neighborhoods, like South Philadelphia,
  North Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia, have
  higher rates of children with asthma.

Source PHMC Household Survey 2000
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What Is Asthma?

• Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be
  life threatening if not treated and controlled.
• The cause of asthma in unknown, but some things
  make asthma worse.

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What Is Happening During an Asthma Attach ?

• When someone is having an asthma attack the
  following is happening
• The lining of the airway is swollen and
  irritated.
• The muscles around the airway tighten and make
  it hard to breathe.
• The airway makes a thick mucus.

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What Is Happening During an Asthma Attack in the
Lungs?
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Asthma Warning Signs

• Warning signs are clues that your childs asthma
  may be getting worse.

• Runny stuffy nose
• Headache
• Tickle in throat
• Childs has a cold or flu
• Coughing
• Restless

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What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

• Not all people with asthma have the same symptoms
• The most common symptoms are
• Coughing a cough that may not go away or may
  be worse at night
• Wheezing a whistling sound that is usually
  heard when breathing out

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What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

• Shortness of breath feels like not being able
  to catch a breath
• Tightness or pain in the chest feels like
  something heavy has been placed on the chest

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What Causes Asthma Attacks?

• AN ASTHMA TRIGGER IS
• anything that sets off asthma symptoms

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TRIGGERS
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Ways to Avoid Triggers

• Dust, dander, and house mites
• Dust the house with a damp cloth, especially in
  the childs bedroom.
• Use a damp mop to clean the floor.
• Cover pillow, mattress, and boxspring with
  special dust-miteproof covers.

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Ways to Avoid Triggers

• Smoke
• Try to make the home smoke free by
• Never allowing smoking in the home or car
• Never allowing smoking around the child
• Quitting smoking
• Avoid burning incense or candles.

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Ways to Avoid Triggers

• Pets
• If possible, remove pets from the home or limit
  the childs contact with the animal.
• Never allow pets in the childs bedroom.

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Ways to Avoid Triggers

• Strong odors and scented products
• Avoid heavy scents, like perfumes, hairsprays,
  and certain household cleaners like bleach or
  ammonia.
• Dont use room deodorizers.

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Ways to Avoid Triggers

• Cockroach dander
• Keep all food in closed containers, and keep
  trash bags closed.
• Clean up moist areas such as kitchen and
  bathroom.
• Clean areas where roaches have been with hot
  soapy water to remove dander previously dropped
  by roaches.

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Asthma Medications and Devices
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Types of Medications

• Long-term controller medicine
• Quick-relief rescue medicine

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Long-Term Medications

• Long-term controller medicine prevents
  swelling and inflammation of the airway and
  should be used every day, even when feeling well.

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Quick-Relief Medications

• Quick-relief rescue medicine works quickly to
  open the tightened airway.
• Quick-relief medicine is usually used on an
  as-needed basis.

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Asthma Devices

• Inhaler the pump
• Delivers inhaled medication in a spray mist form

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Asthma Devices

• Inhaler with Spacer
• A spacer catches the mist and holds it so it can
  be breathed in slowly. This allows the medicine
  to reach the persons lungs.

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Asthma Devices

• Nebulizer
• A machine that delivers medication in a mist.

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Asthma Devices

• Peak Flow Meter
• A device used to measure how air flows from your
  lungs in one fast blast.

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What Is an Asthma Action Plan?

• An asthma action plan is a tool for patients that
  helps families manage asthma.
• It tells exactly how and when to take medicines.
• It also tells how and when to use the
  quick-relief medicine and what to do when the
  child develops symptoms or has an attack.

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An Example of an Asthma Action Plan
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Tips About the Action Plan

• The action plan should be completed by your
  childs medical provider.
• Every child with asthma should have an asthma
  action plan.

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Who Should Have Copies of the Asthma Action Plan?

• Medical providers
• Parent and/or caregiver
• School nurse or daycare provider
• Camp (during summer time) or after-school
  program
• Babysitter

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Controlling Asthma
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Getting Asthma Under Control

• See a health-care provider for regular asthma
  checkups at least twice a year.
• Follow an Asthma Action Plan.
• Learn how to take the right medicine at the
  right time, the right way.

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Getting Asthma Under Control

• Learn about asthma triggers and how to avoid
  them.
• Talk about peak flow monitoring with your
  health-care provider.

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A Child With Well-Controlled Asthma

• Sleeps through the night
• Goes to school every day
• Is able to play, take gym, and participate in
  sports

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Acknowledgments

• Developed by Jessica Anglin with input from the
• Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma Community
• Intervention Committee
• Sponsored by the Philadelphia Allies Against
• Asthma Coalition

8/2003
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For More Information on Asthma

• You can call
• The American Lung Association at
  1-800-586 - 4872
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American at
  1 800-727 - 8462
• Allergy Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
  at 1-800-878-4403
• The Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma Project at
  [phone]

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For More Information on Asthma

• You can go to the following websites
  
• Allies Against Asthma at www.asthma. umich.edu
• Asthma Allergy Foundation of America at
  www.aafa.org
• American Lung Association at www.lungusa.org
• National Blood Lung and Heart Institute at
  www.nhlbi.nih.gov
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
  Immunology at www.aaaai.org
• School Asthma Allergy at www.schoolasthmaallergy.c
  om