ASTHMAASTHMABy: Claudia and LuciaBy: Claudia and Lucia

DEFINITIONDEFINITION Asthma is a condition that Asthma is a condition that affectsaffects a a

person’s breathingperson’s breathing. Inside the . Inside the lungs are airways called breathing lungs are airways called breathing tubes or bronchial tubes. With tubes or bronchial tubes. With asthma, some of the smallest tubes asthma, some of the smallest tubes can swell and narrow, making it can swell and narrow, making it harder for air to get through.harder for air to get through.

Who Gets Asthma?Who Gets Asthma? No one really knows why one No one really knows why one

person’s airways are more sensitive person’s airways are more sensitive than another person’s, but we know than another person’s, but we know that that asthma runs in familiesasthma runs in families. That . That means if a kid has asthma, he or she means if a kid has asthma, he or she might have a parent, sibling, uncle or might have a parent, sibling, uncle or other relative who has asthma or had other relative who has asthma or had it as a kidit as a kid..

What causes an asthma What causes an asthma flare-upflare-up??

Different kids have different triggers Different kids have different triggers and these produce an asthma flare-and these produce an asthma flare-up (attack)up (attack)

Common triggers include:

Allergens, such as dust, pollen, furry animals, moldIrritants, such as cigarette smoke, perfume, chalk dustInfections like a cold or a flu

SymptomsSymptoms There are classic asthma symptoms that There are classic asthma symptoms that

include:include: CoughingCoughing, which may be worse at night, , which may be worse at night,

keeping your child from falling or staying keeping your child from falling or staying asleepasleep

WheezingWheezing, a “whistling” sound that , a “whistling” sound that occurs when you child breathes air outoccurs when you child breathes air out

TightnessTightness in the chestin the chest Shortness of breathShortness of breath, trouble breathing , trouble breathing

normallynormally Frequent respiratory Frequent respiratory infectionsinfections, such as , such as

pneumonia or bronchitispneumonia or bronchitis Trouble breathing after Trouble breathing after runningrunning or active or active

playplay

CAUSESCAUSES Why do some children get asthma Why do some children get asthma

while others do not? Why is it so while others do not? Why is it so widespread?widespread?

When it comes to causes, more than 50% of all childhood asthma is allergy-related. Cat allergies, in particular, account for 30% of all allergens that trigger childhood asthma. Asthma and allergies are often related to each other, especially in children.

MORE INFORMATIONMORE INFORMATION These symptoms occur when your child’s These symptoms occur when your child’s

bronchial passagesbronchial passages (airways) become (airways) become inflamedinflamed. This causes them to narrow, . This causes them to narrow, making it making it difficultdifficult to get to get air in and out air in and out of the lungs. A buildup of mucous in the of the lungs. A buildup of mucous in the airways further aggravates your child’s airways further aggravates your child’s asthma.asthma.

Hidden asthma occurs when the typical Hidden asthma occurs when the typical asthma symptoms are not easily detected; asthma symptoms are not easily detected; they may only show up when your child they may only show up when your child enages in physical activity.enages in physical activity.

No one can say for sure why childhood No one can say for sure why childhood asthma is rising but many professionals and asthma is rising but many professionals and experts believe it has a lot to do with experts believe it has a lot to do with contamination. Others believe that the abuse contamination. Others believe that the abuse of vaccinations have reduced the immune of vaccinations have reduced the immune system’s ability to produce antibodies.system’s ability to produce antibodies.

SolutionsSolutions Try to stay away from all allergens; Try to stay away from all allergens;

there are some things you can do:there are some things you can do:

Keep your room as clean and free of dust as possible. Keep your room as clean and free of dust as possible. Wash your sheets weekly in hot water.Wash your sheets weekly in hot water. Get rid of carpets.Get rid of carpets. Keep any pets out of your roomKeep any pets out of your room You might also need to take allergy You might also need to take allergy

medication or have allergy shotsmedication or have allergy shots

GAMESGAMES Asthma is…Asthma is…

1 .A type of allergy1 .A type of allergy

2. Pimples in your2. Pimples in your bodybody

3. A condition that3. A condition that affects a affects a persons breathingpersons breathing

GAMESGAMES Asthma is…Asthma is…

1 .A type of allergy1 .A type of allergy

2. Pimples in your2. Pimples in your bodybody

3. A condition that3. A condition that affects a affects a persons breathingpersons breathing

The causesThe causes1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-

related related

2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-relatedrelated

3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-relatedrelated

1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-related related

2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-relatedrelated

3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-relatedrelated

THE CAUSESTHE CAUSES

THE ENDTHE END