CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Childhood Asthma - Comparing Black Children to White in Low Income Areas

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Childhood Asthma in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on Childhood Asthma and comparing Black Children to White in low income areas. The research also analyzes many aspects of Childhood Asthma and tries to gauge its effect on Black and White Children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract2

Introduction4

Characteristics of childhood asthma4

Literature Review6

Analysis7

Asthma and African Americans9

Discussion10

Conclusion12

References14

Childhood Asthma - Comparing Black Children to White in Low Income Areas

Introduction

The asthma is a common childhood disease that is recognized by the prolonged breathing difficulty breathing and wheezing (Weiss and Wagener, 1990). The bronchial asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by variable and reversible airway obstruction that presents an increased airway response against a variety of stimuli, allergens, drugs, exercise, air cold, laughter, tears or smoke. It is the most common serious chronic disease in childhood.

Characteristics of childhood asthma

The Childhood Asthma is a disorder featuring episodes of attacks interspersed with asymptomatic periods. It is characterized by inflammation of the airways (bronchi) and in response causes increased bronchial responsiveness and cause obstruction. In many cases, their origin is an allergy and an increase of secretions and bronchial muscle contraction (Sondik, 2009). Children with asthma also experience an increase in bronchial excitability when exposed to various stimuli such as snuff smoke, gases, odors, cold air, exercise, laughing, coughing or crying. In this case, the bronchi of asthmatics constrict in an exaggerated fashion to produce the narrowing of the airway. The bronchial obstruction can be variable and reversible. At the time of crisis, air circulates with difficulty, producing the classic wheezing or wheezing, especially when breathing with shortness of breath, fatigue or breathlessness and shortness of breath. When the crisis is resolved, the air can flow normally again the bronchi, the symptoms disappeared, although it may persists inflammation (Institute of Medicine, 2000).

Parents often panic when asthmatic child is anxious and pale, and breathing difficulty and noise. Asthma is characterized by the intensity of cough, respiratory effort which ultimately affects the respiratory muscles. Therefore, there is the sinking of the sternum and the intercostals spaces, nasal flaring and movements of the muscles of the neck, and chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing.

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among children and adolescents. According to recent estimates, 6.7 million US children and adolescents are currently diagnosed with this chronic respiratory disease. Despite medical advances, asthma continues to be a major public health issue, particularly in urban communities. Specifically, asthma disproportionately affects adolescents in black, urban, low-income communities (Yeatts, 2005). Black children and adolescents are 1.6 times more likely to have current asthma than their white non-Hispanic counterparts and are more likely to suffer from higher rates of disability, mortality, and emergency department visits due to asthma than their white non-Hispanic peers.

Black adolescents with asthma face numerous physical consequences (e.g., excessive coughing, wheezing), which may result in significant activity limitations, including decreased school attendance and restricted physical activity. In addition to physical complications, adolescents with asthma are also at an increased risk for psychological ...