Guidelines Are Issued on Asthma and Youths

NY Times ^ | August 30, 2007 | DENISE GRADY

[neverdem]

Children ages 5 to 11 with asthma require different treatment than do adults, guidelines issued yesterday by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute say.

The new guidelines are the first to recognize that this age group has distinct needs and should not be lumped together with adults, as has been done in the past.

Specifically, these children can often control their asthma with inhalers that contain only steroid drugs, whereas adults are more likely to need inhalers that combine steroids and other medicines.

(The steroids used to treat asthma are different from the ones that athletes take to bulk up their muscles.)

The new information is part of a 440-page report (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm) that spells out details for diagnosing and treating the disease. The report emphasizes that every patient should have a treatment plan that considers not only current symptoms, but also the risk of future attacks. Someone with asthma can be feeling perfectly fine and yet still be at high risk of having a severe attack. The risk is based on the history of asthma attacks and related problems like allergies, and it is an important factor in determining the type of medicine needed and how often it should be used.

People with persistent asthma need to take medicine every day to prevent attacks, even when they are feeling well, and the report notes that educating patients and their families is an essential part of controlling the disease. Patients must be persuaded to take medicine even when they do not feel sick, and they need to be taught how to use inhalers properly, or the medicine will not reach their lungs.

[pandoraou812]

Well we know only too well what asthma meds can do to a child don’t we?

[sageb1]

The increase in asthma in kids (and adults) really irks me. I have theories. Un PC ones. I knew 1 (one) kid in my entire school (and I knew everyone in my school) who had asthma attacks after running and that was it.

[pandoraou812]

Singular combined with Zyrtec put my daughter into upper respiratory distress many times last year. She had pneumonia & broncititis over & over. Her moron dr was in denial & thought I was a crazy mother. Thanks to TigersEye figuring out that she was allergic to these meds she is doing fine. I got a dr who believed me when I said the meds were making her worse. Her new dr changed the meds and inhaler. She has hardly used the inhaler all summer. I am wondering if her school which is old could be part of her problem. I guess I will find out soon enough when school starts. In my neighborhood so many of her little friends have asthma that I think its strange. None of my older adult children or their friends had it. Its strange how so many children now have it.

[Hi Heels]

My youngest daughter was allergic to mold. That always caused asthma-like reaction. Check and see if the school has black mold. Just a thought. Blessings and prayers for your daughter.

[pandoraou812]

Thanks I will check it out. I asked them last year if there was a mold problem but was told no. As a class mother I was able to get into the school often & I saw the roof was leaking a few times. I wonder if mold is up under the ceiling. Prayers for you & your daughter also. ~P~

[TigersEye]

It is strange. I can only think of one kid that had asthma when I was growing up. In high school he smoked Camel straights too and then he got into bull riding. Smoked quite a bit of other stuff too. He wasn't exactly wussy and for some reason didn't need a cabinet full of meds.

It's kind of like the 800% increase in psychotropic meds for children between 1990 and 2000. Where were all the emotionally sick kids in the '60s, '70s and '80s? All of a sudden every kid that looks cross eyed at the teacher needs Ritalin or Prozac. Don't get me started.

[sageb1]

“Its strange how so many children now have it.”

Yes. It’s strange. Which is my point. It’s way too late to elaborate tonight. I’m heading to bed. Haven’t seen you in awhile. Hope all is well.

[TigersEye]

I’m sure glad that Sassy is still doing good.

[Hi Heels]

My daughter died in '95 of complications due to her multiple disabilities. She was born with the cord around her neck in a tight knot. But don't be sad. She's in heaven and I know she's safe now.

Recheck that mold issue. I'd call the DHS and have them check the building if she responds badly to being back in school. It's not enough to see. You need to make sure.

[sageb1]

“Don’t get me started.”

I won’t. See my last post. I’m bleary-eyed. (but would love to have this conversation some time because I sense you’re a kindred spirit).

[TigersEye]

I’m off to bed soon too but if medicine today makes your blood boil, especially regarding children, then we’re two peas in a pod. lol

[pandoraou812]

What scares me the most is that an inhaler can be very dangerous to a person who doesn’t really need it and these drs are handing them out so quickly. Plus these drs don’t pay attention to what you tell them. Some of the meds shouldn’t be combined. Sassy’s dr wouldn’t even listen to what I was saying remember? They think they know it all... If you hadn’t figured it out I don’t know what would have happened to Sassy. Hugs & many thanks....~Pandy~ & ~Sassy~

[pandoraou812]

I am very sorry for your loss. I am sure she is an angel now.....You both will be in my prayers. ~Pandora~

[neverdem]

The increase in asthma in kids (and adults) really irks me. I have theories. Un PC ones. I knew 1 (one) kid in my entire school (and I knew everyone in my school) who had asthma attacks after running and that was it.

When I grew up, I knew one kid with a history of asthma. His ancestry was Italian. My theory is that white devils from the northern parts of Europe self selected themselves to tolerate air pollution from a smoky hearth in their shelters which kept them warm at home.

[Hi Heels]

Thank you, but call DHS. It’s important. Might be more than just your baby who is suffering.

[pandoraou812]

I’ve spent most of the summer at my trailer. Its great to see you, hope all has been good with you. We’ve had a great time watching hummingbirds & deer. We even saw a bald eagle. See you soon ...~Pandora~

[pandoraou812]

Yes I will . I plan to point it out at the 1st PTO meeting & talk to the school nurse & principal. But I will make that call and get other mothers to call too.

[TigersEye]

That’s great advice, pandy. Watch her closely the first week or two of school and see if there are changes in her health and what they are. Don’t say anything to her so you don’t influence her thinking about it. But if problems crop up ask her some questions like “when did this start?” “Where were you?” Just a straigtforward “what started this?” can get you an insightful answer that she doesn’t even understand that she has. The biggest clue though will be if there’s an immediate change.

[Hi Heels]

Xactly.