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Health Topics
Asthma
Addressing Asthma in Schools
Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled. In a classroom of
30 children, about three are likely to have asthma.1 Schools can do their
part to control asthma by becoming more “asthma-friendly,” i.e., adopting
policies and procedures, and coordinating student services to better serve
students with
asthma. For example, all students with diagnosed asthma should have an
asthma action plan on file that is easily accessible at school.2
Schools
can provide asthma education and collaborate with organizations that focus
on asthma. Chances for success are better when the whole school community
takes part—school administrators, teachers, and staff, as well as students
and parents.
Asthma Facts
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THE COST
OF ASTHMA
IN U.S. CHILDREN |
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Lost School Days5
14 Million Days/Year
Asthma Treatment6
$3.2 Billion/Year
Hospitalization7
3rd Leading Cause Among Children Under 15 Years Old
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Among children 0–17 years old in the United States in 2002:
- 12.2% (8.9 million) had been told by a health professional at some
point in their lives that they had asthma.3
- 8.3% (6.1 million) were reported to currently have asthma.1
- 5.8% (4.2 million) had an asthma attack in the last 12 months.3
Among children 0–17 years old in the United States in 2000:
- 4.6 million had visited doctors’ offices and hospital outpatient
departments.3
- 728,000 visited hospital emergency departments.3
- 214,000 were hospitalized due to asthma.3
The impact of illness and deaths due to asthma is disproportionately
higher among low-income populations, minorities, and children in inner
cities than in the general population.4
Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health
Program
CDC has identified six strategies for schools and districts to consider
as they develop coordinated plans for addressing asthma in schools. The
six strategies for addressing asthma within a coordinated school health
program are:
- Establish management and support systems for asthma-friendly
schools.
- Provide appropriate school health and mental health services for
students with asthma.
- Provide asthma education and awareness programs for students and
school staff.
- Provide a safe and healthy school environment to reduce asthma
triggers.
- Provide safe, enjoyable physical education and activity
opportunities for students with asthma.
- Coordinate school, family, and community efforts to better manage
asthma symptoms and reduce school absences among students with asthma.
For more information see Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a
Coordinated School Health Program.
School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000
Data Relating to Asthma Management8
Percent of schools that have:
† Not just for a specific individual’s use.
‡ The schools prohibit tobacco use at all times, on
all school property (including all buildings, facilities, and school
grounds), in any form of school transportation, and at school-sponsored
events on and off school property.
School Health Profiles 2002
Percentage of Secondary Schools that Implemented
School-based Asthma Management Activities
United States, 20029
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Type of Activity |
Range % |
Median % |
|
Assured immediate access to medications |
66.6% to 100.0% |
91.8% |
|
Had a full-time registered nurse |
1.4% to 98.0% |
41.2% |
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Obtained and used an asthma action plan for all students with asthma |
26.8% to 79.7% |
56.4% |
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Taught asthma awareness to all students in at least one grade |
13.5% to 47.6% |
24.8% |
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Educated school staff about asthma |
25.0% to 67.4% |
51.9% |
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References
-
Unpublished Analysis of National Center for Health
Statistics Data [cited August 6, 2004].
- National Institutes of Health. Clinical practice
guidelines: expert panel report 2: guidelines for the diagnosis and
management of asthma. Rockville, MD: US Dept of Health and Human
Services, National Institutes of Health, 1997; NIH publication 97–4051.
-
National Center for Health Statistics [cited August 6, 2004].
- Lieu TA, Lozano P, Finkelstein JA, Chi FW, Jensvold
NG, Capra AM. Racial/ethnic variation in asthma status and management
practices among children in managed Medicaid. Pediatrics 2002;
109:857–865.
- Mannino DM, Homa DM, Akinbami LJ, Moorman JE, Gwynn
C, Redd S.
Surveillance for Asthma—United States, 1980–1999. MMWR
Surveill Summ March 29, 2002; 51(No.SS-1):1–13.
- Weiss KB, Sullivan SD, Lytle CS. Trends in the cost
of illness for asthma in the United States, 1985–1994. J Allergy Clin
Immunol 2000; 106 (3):493–499.
- Hall MJ, DeFrances CJ. 2001 National Hospital
Discharge Survey. Advance data from vital and health statistics; no 332.
Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2003,
Table 3.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
School
health policies and programs study (SHPPS) 2000: a summary report. J
Sch Health, 71 (7):249–350.
- Whalen LG, Grunbaum JA, Kann L, Hawking J. McManus T,
Davis KS. School Heath Profiles:
surveillance for characteristics of
health programs among secondary schools (Profiles 2002).
Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.
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