New Survey Shows Caregivers Are Not Doing Enough to Control Child’s Asthma Before Cold and Flu Season
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Because cold and flu season can be difficult for children with asthma or other chronic breathing problems, caregivers need to take precautions to ensure their child’s asthma is under control before the season begins. A new survey of 503 caregivers who have children with asthma or other breathing problems shows that few families are prepared to face this seasonal threat.
Most caregivers questioned in the survey, which was commissioned by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), think their child’s asthma is under control, despite the presence of symptoms that suggest otherwise, and nearly one in four caregivers have not asked their doctor what they can do to better manage asthma during cold and flu season.
According to the survey, while 82 percent of caregivers said their child’s asthma was under control, their responses indicated that many did not recognize the most telling signs of uncontrolled asthma:
* 40 percent reported their child was hospitalized or visited an emergency room to treat asthma flare-ups * 39 percent reported their child missed days at school due to asthma symptoms * 20 percent of those with children who use rescue medication said their child used it at least twice a week * 12 percent reported their child woke up at night at least once a week because of breathing problems or asthma symptoms
“Many caregivers have a very difficult time accepting that their child has asthma, and that this is a chronic disease, or they don’t recognize the signs of uncontrolled asthma,” said Giselle Mosnaim, MD, MS, Program Director of the Allergy and Immunology Training Program at Rush University Medical Center and the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago.
The survey also found that many parents don’t understand how to properly control asthma. Specifically, 38 percent felt medications are only needed when breathing problems occur, and 44 percent agreed that asthma attacks can be prevented if the child takes a rescue medication.
“One important way to help manage the underlying cause of asthma symptoms is with a controller medication, such as nebulized therapy. Even when parents don’t hear or see symptoms, regular treatment can help control inflammation and may prevent asthma attacks,(1) ” said Mosnaim.
Protecting Your Child During Cold and Flu Season
It’s especially important for caregivers to be informed about asthma treatment and the signs of uncontrolled asthma as the cold and flu season approaches.
“Flu symptoms can make asthma symptoms even worse,” said Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs for AAFA. “Patients with asthma who get the flu could end up in the emergency room. Many caregivers find this out the hard way, when their child gets sick.”
AAFA recommends caregivers who have children with asthma take several steps to ensure their child is ready for the cold and flu season:
* Make sure your child gets a flu shot. AAFA’s Flu Shot Finder, available at http://www.aafa.org/, is a simple online zip-code search tool that links to a database of more than 25,000 flu clinic locations nationwide. The Flu Shot Finder returns a list of clinics, dates, times, addresses and phone numbers to help consumers find the most convenient location and schedule a visit. * Find the best asthma treatment. Work with your child’s doctor to identify the best treatment plan to ensure asthma is under control. A customizable treatment plan is available for download at http://www.everydaykidz.com/ . * Encourage hand washing. One of the basic preventive measures for avoiding germs is consistent hand washing. About the Survey
The survey was conducted via the Internet with a panel sample of 503 caregivers of children ages 1 to 8 years who have asthma or take medication for asthma symptoms. Data collection was conducted between October 3 and 10, 2006, by ICR on behalf of AAFA, and was underwritten by AstraZeneca. ICR (http://www.icrsurvey.com/ ) is one of the nation’s leading market and opinion research firms and is headquartered in Media, PA.
About Childhood Asthma
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, and yet many caregivers know little about it. In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 5 million youngsters under age 18 have this disease. In 1993 alone, asthma was the reason for almost 200,000 hospital stays and about 340 deaths among persons under age 25.
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) illness in which the airways become blocked or narrowed. This is usually temporary, but it causes shortness of breath, trouble breathing, and other symptoms. If asthma becomes severe, the person may need emergency treatment to restore normal breathing.
The symptoms of asthma are triggered by things in the environment. These vary from person to person, but common triggers include cold air; exercise; allergens (things that cause allergies) such as dust mites, mold, pollen, animal dander or cockroach debris; and some types of viral infections.
For more information about childhood asthma, please visit http://www.everydaykidz.com/
About the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading non-profit and patient organization fighting asthma and allergic disease. AAFA provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient care and supports research to find cures. To learn more about AAFA, visit http://www.aafa.org/ .
(1) Familydoctor.org. Asthma: controller and quick-relief medicine. Available at: http://www.familydoctor.org/665.xml . Accessed 3/27/06
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
CONTACT: Niava Morson of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America,+1-202-466-7643, ext. 223, niava@aafa.org; or Scott Lerman of Burson-Marsteller, +1-212-614-4499, scott.lerman@bm.com, for the Asthma and AllergyFoundation of America