Illinois Early Learning Project


http://illinoisearlylearning.org

Live Interactive Chat

 

April 7, 2003 Caring for Children with AsthmaJanette Hoffman
Child Care Nurse Consultant
Child Care Resource Service
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Macon County Health Department

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that causes them to become narrow with swollen, irritated, and inflamed linings. The airways are also overly sensitive to certain triggers. About 1 out of 10 children in the United States has asthma. Parents and child care providers need to know about asthma symptoms, how to tell if symptoms are getting worse, what triggers asthma episodes and how to control triggers, how to correctly use medications and equipment, how to plan for emergencies, and the importance of communication between parents, child care providers, and health professionals. A consistent asthma management plan will help control symptoms and allow kids to do just about any activity they choose. This Chat provides answers to questions such as, “How soon should parents be looking for signs that their child might suffer from asthma?” “Does smoking during pregnancy increase the risk your child will have asthma?” ”Can a child grow out of asthma?” “What steps should a care provider take when a child has an asthma episode?”

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