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Asthma Basics
- Nearly 1 in 10 children have asthma
- Most children who develop asthma (80%) develop symptoms prior to 5 years of age
- Cough and wheeze are the most common symptoms; breathlessness, chest tightness, chest pain can also be experienced.
- Triggers include viral illnesses, exercise, weather, smoke exposure, allergens, irritants, and stress
Program Goals
- To identify children at any encounter that are at risk for having asthma
- To further assess those children identified as being at risk
- To assist those with asthma to appropriately manage symptoms through:
- Education
- Initiation of controller medications when necessary
- Management of exacerbations when they occur
- To monitor progress on medications, assess for side effects, and manage dosing as appropriate
- Coordinate specialist care when appropriate (Allergists, Pulmonologists)
Diagnosis
Assessment for asthma is based on:
- History
- Physical Examination
- Demonstration that obstruction (what causes symptoms) is reversible
- Excluding other diagnosis where appropriate
Management
- Standardized Assessment Questionnaires such as the Asthma Control Test to assess recent symptoms
- Spirometry to assess amount of airway obstruction present at time of visit
- Laboratory studies to assess for allergies, immune deficiencies, cystic fibrosis where appropriate
- Referrals to allergists, immunologists, pulmonologists where appropriate
- Adjustments and Education on which medications to use and when based on assessment