Evan Schneider was diagnosed with Asthma when he was about two and a half years old.  Evan’s mom Jill says, “The first time we didn’t even think it was an asthma attack.  Basically he had almost like a cold.  So when we took him in thinking it was just a horrible cold and we need something to be prescribed we found out - no his oxygen levels were low.  And he was actually having an asthma attack.”

Jill and Evan are now working with Patti Burton from the “Asthma Education and Management Program” at Community Medical Centers in Fresno.  After a diagnosis is made by a physician, Patti helps families understand asthma and teaches them how to manage it.  “It’s just an inflammatory process of the lungs.  It makes the lungs very sensitive.”

Asthma and your Airways
-Inflammation
-Mucous secretions
-Muscle spasms

There is no known cause of asthma, an incurable and potentially deadly disease.  It involves inflammation, mucous secretions and muscle spasms in a person’s airways, making it very hard to breathe.  Patti says, “Asthma attacks are a very scary time for the whole family, especially in small children.  Their airways are so small.  And when they are irritated and further irritated when the muscle spasms down.  It’s like pinching off a straw.”  She says symptoms vary from person to person.  “Typically in small children it’s just a cough.  Many people will wheeze.  They’ll experience a shortness of breath.” 

Asthma attacks and symptoms can interfere with a child’s daily activities and quality of life.  Patti says they may experience, “…decreased ability to play, with the small children it slows them down, because they’re having difficulty with that exertion.”

Children Diagnosed with Asthma

Fresno County
30.5% - 75, 000

Tulare County
23.1% - 29,000

Madera County
22.8% - 9,000

Source:  California Health Interview Survey, 2005

According to the California Health Interview Survey, 30-percent of children in Fresno County were diagnosed with asthma in the year 2005.  That’s about 75,000 children.  In Tulare County, 23-percent or 29,000 children were diagnosed with asthma.  Madera County has 22-percent, which comes out to 9,000 children.

Asthma symptoms can be prevented with routine health care, proper asthma management and removing triggers from the child’s environment.  But Patti says if left untreated, Asthma can be deadly.  She shared the following statistics.  “The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America quotes 11 Americans die every day from an Asthma Attack.  That’s about 5-thousand a year in the United States.  Those are all preventable deaths and that’s where education again is so important.”

Patti stresses the importance of asthma education.  “The things that are so important are that a family takes ownership of this asthma.  It can be scary and as children get older and can take ownership of it.  Because only you know how your body feels.  With small children, the mom needs to know, especially the mom, when things are changing in that small child.”

Evan’s parents have been proactive, educating themselves about the disease and taking steps to make sure their child is healthy.  Jill thinks of it this way, “Let’s look at it realistically.  That this is something that Evan is going to have throughout his whole life. So, let’s set the foundation so he can manage it.”

Jill says she keeps a log noting what can trigger an asthma attack for Evan.  “Not to limit him but to let him thrive more by looking at the conditions and helping those out.”

Asthma Triggers
Tobacco smoke
Air pollution
Strong odors
Dust mites
Pet dander
Mold
Pollens and grass

Some known trigger of asthma attacks are tobacco smoke, air pollution, strong odors, dust mites, mold and pet dander.  Many asthmatics have an allergic component to their asthma.  So, pollens and grass may be triggers, as well.

Asthma Triggers
(Non-Environmental Factors)
Viral Infections
Exercise
Stress
Improper Medication

Some non-environmental factors include:  infection, exercise, emotional stress, and improper medication.

Another important part of the process is making sure your child is taking the proper medication.  Patti advises parents to take charge of the situation.  “Catch it early but own it.  Work with your physician.  The physician-patient relationship is so important.  And even if the child is doing well, have regular checkups to monitor the medications.  Are they working?  Are we having side effects from the medications?  Educate yourself on the disease process.  It’s so important.”  Patti assures parents they are safe.  “The side effects of the asthma being under-controlled are far worse than any side effects that you will possibly get from the medications that are prescribed for your child.” 

If a child has allergies, parents will need to take that into account, as well.  “People with allergies with their asthma need possibly some allergy relief.  Because if their asthma is allergic, you must control the allergies control the asthma.”

Parents can also take steps to prevent their child from being exposed to items around the house that may trigger an attack.

AROUND THE HOUSE
-no smoking
-keep dust to a minimum
-change air filters
-HEPA filters on vacuum cleaners
-dust mite covers on pillows and mattresses

They can make their house a “No Smoking Zone,” keep dust to a minimum, change air filters on a regular basis, and cover mattresses and pillows with a dust mite cover.

Patti says having an Asthma Action Plan is very important  for every asthmatic.  “It is important for the parent to have the physician or nurse practitioner fill it out though and to be educated on how to use it.  It doesn't work if you don't understand it.”

There are many versions of the asthma action plan.  Here is a sample version.  
Planner to help manage Asthma
Click to download
Again, your physician may want to fill one out for your child or have it filled out by an asthma specialist.

Patti says most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live active lives.  “You can feel good and you can do whatever you want to do.  And that’s very important because life is for living.  We want people to enjoy life.”

For phone numbers and links, see Resource, of Course!