1. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt

2. Asthma in Philadelphia
P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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.
The second bullet: 16% of African American and 18% of Latino children have the highest percent of asthma cases
Source for statistics: PHMC Household Survey, 2000
Source: PHMC Household Survey 2000

3. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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.
Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be prevented and controlled.

4. 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.

5. What Is Happening During an Asthma Attack in the Lungs?

6. Asthma Warning Signs
Warning signs are clues that your child’s asthma may be getting worse.
Know Your
Child’s Warning
Signs!
Runny stuffy nose
Headache
Tickle in throat
Child’s has a cold or flu
Coughing
Restless

7. 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

8. 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

9. What Causes Asthma Attacks?
P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
What Causes Asthma Attacks?
AN ASTHMA TRIGGER IS…
anything that sets off asthma symptoms
Triggers causes the airways to react and the muscles around it to swell and squeeze shut. In addition, the body produces a lot of mucus to get rid of the triggers and the airway gets even narrower.

10. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
TRIGGERS
Asthma attacks can be caused by something that bothers or irritates your lungs, which are called asthma triggers. Not all the asthma triggers affect every person with asthma. Not all asthma triggers are listed here.
There are many asthma triggers.

11. Ways to Avoid Triggers Dust, dander, and house mites
Dust the house with a damp cloth, especially in the child’s bedroom.
Use a damp mop to clean the floor.
Cover pillow, mattress, and boxspring with special dust-mite–proof covers.

12. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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.
Tobacco Smoke can trigger an asthma attack ………Over half of the children with asthma live in homes with someone who smokes

13. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
Ways to Avoid Triggers
Pets
If possible, remove pets from the home or limit the child’s contact with the animal.
Never allow pets in the child’s bedroom.
There is no such thing as a hypo-allergenic or non allergic breed of dog
If a person can not get rid of pets make sure the pet is washed weekly

14. Ways to Avoid Triggers Strong odors and scented products
Avoid heavy scents, like perfumes, hairsprays, and certain household cleaners like bleach or ammonia.
Don’t use room deodorizers.

15. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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.
Can use roach baits such as Combat or Maxforce in kitchen and bathrooms.
Boric acid mixed with talcum powder can be put along baseboards, under appliance, between walls (in cracks or open areas)
Call the exterminator if roach problem persists

16. Asthma Medications and Devices

17. Types of Medications Long-term “controller” medicine
Quick-relief “rescue” medicine

18. Long-Term Medications
P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
Long-Term Medications
Long-term “controller” medicine prevents swelling and inflammation of the airway and should be used every day, even when feeling well.
*Long term medication should not be used as a quick relief.

19. Quick-Relief Medications
P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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.
The quick relief medication should not be used in place of long term medicine

20. Asthma Devices Inhaler “the pump”
Delivers inhaled medication in a spray mist form

21. 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 person’s lungs.

22. Asthma Devices
Nebulizer
A machine that delivers medication in a mist.

23. Asthma Devices Peak Flow Meter
A device used to measure how air flows from your lungs in one “fast blast.”

24. 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.

25. An Example of an Asthma Action Plan

26. Tips About the Action Plan
The action plan should be completed by your child’s medical provider.
Every child with asthma should have an asthma action plan.

27. 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

28. Controlling Asthma

29. 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.

30. Getting Asthma Under Control
Learn about asthma triggers and how to avoid them.
Talk about peak flow monitoring with your health-care provider.

31. 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

32. P-All About Asthma- English.ppt
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

33. For More Information on Asthma
You can call :
The American Lung Association at
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American at –
Allergy & Asthma Network: Mothers of Asthmatics at
The Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma Project at (215)

34. For More Information on Asthma
You can go to the following websites :
Allies Against Asthma at umich.edu
Asthma Allergy Foundation of America at
American Lung Association at
National Blood Lung and Heart Institute at
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology at
School Asthma Allergy at