Asthma, a respiratory problem that can cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness, is one of the most common chronic health problems that affects kids in the United States. According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly one in six high school students report having asthma.
In a 2003 survey about health behaviors, CDC researchers asked 13,222 students in grades 9 through 12 whether they:
- had ever been told they'd had asthma by a doctor or nurse
- had an asthma attack or asthma symptoms within the last year
Almost 19% of students said they'd been told they had asthma by a doctor or a nurse some time in their lives (researchers defined this as lifetime asthma). Sixteen percent - or one in six - students said that they either knew they had asthma but they hadn't had an asthma attack or flare-up within the last year, or they reported having symptoms or an attack within the last year (researchers called this as current asthma). Overall, Hispanic students were less likely to report having been told they had asthma or to have had recent asthma flare-ups or symptoms, compared to black or white students.
Of the 16% of students who had current asthma, more than one in three - about 38% - had an asthma flare-up or attack during the 12 months before the survey. Girls with current asthma were more likely than boys to have had an attack or flare-up within the last year. In addition, younger students with current asthma were more likely than older students to have had an asthma flare-up or attack within the last year.
What This Means to You: For most children and teens, asthma can be well controlled, and with the help of an asthma treatment plan and your child's doctor, you and your child may be able to reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and flare-ups and how often they occur. If you think your child may have asthma - such as if he or she complains of wheezing or chest tightness - talk to your child's doctor. He or she may recommend medication and other strategies to help control your child's physical symptoms. You may also want to talk to your child's doctor about how to address the emotional concerns of kids with asthma, like dealing with asthma symptoms at school.
Source: S. Merkle, MPH; S. Everett Jones, PhD; L. Wheeler, MD; D. Mannino, MD; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 12, 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: August 2005
