1. Your Name/Credentials
Asthma 101
Your Name/Credentials
Job Title
Organization

2. What is Asthma? Reversible narrowing of the airways in the lung
Inflammation
A long term disease of the airways
Not contagious (you can’t catch it)
Inherited (tends to run in families)

3. Normal lungs

4. Normal airway

5. Bronchoconstriction (muscles tighten)

6. Inflammation (swelling and mucus)

7. What happens in an asthma attack?
Muscles tighten around the pipes in the lungs
Swelling occurs inside the pipes
Lots of mucus is produced inside the pipes.

8. How do you know if you have it?
Diagnosing Asthma
How do you know if you have it?

9. Diagnosis of Asthma
Based on a history of coughing or wheezing or shortness of breath
Symptoms can vary based on age
Cough can be the only symptom
No other causes for the cough or wheezing are found

10. Diagnosing Asthma
Your doctor will ask a lot of questions about the type of problems you or your child are having
The doctor will examine you or your child
Older children and adults can be tested using ‘spirometry’

11. Asthma Warning Signs

12. Warning signs of an upcoming asthma attack
Drop in peak flow meter scores
Dry cough
Feeling tired, not wanting to play
Feeling sad, angry, moody or restless
Trouble sleeping, night cough
Stuffy nose, runny nose, watery eyes

13. More Warning Signs Sneezing, itchy or tickly throat
Stomach ache, headache
Fast heartbeat
Tight chest
Fast breathing
Wheezing
Ear pain

14. Retractions in the chest
More severe symptoms
Vomiting
Becoming lethargic
Retractions in the chest
Looking pale

15. Classification of Asthma

16. Mild Intermittent Asthma
Daytime symptoms no more than twice a week
Nighttime symptoms no more than twice a month
Brief episodes of problems
No problems in between times
This is the only class of asthma that does not require preventive medicines

17. Mild Persistent Asthma
Symptoms more than twice a week but less than once a day
Attacks may affect activity
Nighttime symptoms more than twice a month

18. Moderate Persistent Asthma
Daily Symptoms
Daily Use of Albuterol (or equivalent)
Attacks affect activity
Attacks at least twice a week; may last for days
Nighttime symptoms more than once a week

19. Severe Persistent Asthma
Continual Symptoms during the day
Limited physical activity
Frequent Daily episodes
Frequent nighttime symptoms

20. How can asthma attacks be prevented?

21. Prevention
You can’t prevent every trigger, but there are a lot of things you can do to help your child
Pay attention to what causes your child to have problems-write it down so you don’t forget
Talk to your doctor about possible triggers; get testing done, if possible

22. Preventing Infections
Wash your hands frequently. Teach your child to do the same
Sneeze or cough into a tissue, if possible (At LEAST into the ‘crook’ of the elbow
Get your child a Flu Shot every year!

23. Prevent Exposure to Triggers!
Triggers: Things, acts or events that cause asthma episodes
Can be allergies, weather, irritants, viral infections, strong emotions, stress, exercise, medical conditions, and medicines
Preventing exposure to triggers lowers frequency and severity of asthma symptoms with less need for medicine
Use diary to analyze exposure and reaction

24. Top Five Asthma Triggers
Tobacco Smoke and Tobacco Odor
Pet Dander
Outdoor and Indoor Mold
Dust and Dust Mites
Cockroaches

25. Avoiding cigarette smoke is critical!
Don’t smoke around your child or in any house or car where your child will be. Request visitors to refrain from smoking in your house or car
Don’t take your child to places where other people are smoking

26. Asthma Action Plans

27. Asthma Action Plans
A step by step approach to treating asthma symptoms
Based on peak flow meter readings or a scale of symptoms in children too young for peak flow monitoring
Developed by your doctor with your input, and personalized based on your best peak flow

29. When to see an asthma specialist

30. General Guidelines When the diagnosis isn’t clear
When you need more information about what is triggering your asthma
When you aren’t reaching the goals set with the treatment you are on
When you have had a life-threatening attack

31. Goals for kids with asthma

32. Activity
Children with Asthma should be able to play regularly and vigorously with no restrictions!

33. Symptoms Kids with asthma who are well controlled
Should not be waking up at night coughing
Should not be using their rescue medicine more than twice a week
Should not miss school for asthma
Should not need to go to the emergency room or be admitted to the hospital for their asthma
Should not consider themselves sicker or weaker than other children

34. Treatments for asthma

35. Types of asthma medicines
Controller medicines are used to prevent the inflammation in the lungs. They are used every day, even if your child seems well
Rescue medicines are used when your child is having problems

36. Know Your Medications! HOW WHEN to use them to use them!!!
Name: (Generic & Brand names)
Dose:
WHEN
to use them!!!
HOW
your medications work
to use them

37. Quick Reliever (Rescue)Medications (Bronchodilators)
Relax tight, twitchy muscles around airways
Work in 1-3 minutes and last for 4 hours
Take immediately to get episode under control
If use > 2 times a week - asthma is out of control !
Proair
albuterol sulfate
Generic albuterol sulfate inhalation solution
Proventil HFA
albuterol sulfate
Generic albuterol sulfate
Ventolin HFA
albuterol sulfate
Combivent Respimat
ipatroprium bromide & albuterol sulfate
Xopenex HFA levalbuterol
Xopenex levalbuterol inhalation solution
Atrovent HFA
ipratropium bromide

38. Long Acting Bronchodilators
Controllers
Keep airways open by relaxing tight, twitchy muscles
Work very slowly and last up to 12 hours
Prevent night time symptoms and exercise-induced asthma
DOES NOT GIVE QUICK RELIEF!
Serevent Diskus
salmeterol xinafoate inhalation powder
Foradil Aerolizer
formoterol fumarate inhalation powder

39. Inhaled Corticosteroids Controllers
Prevent episodes by controlling airway inflammation and decreasing overly-sensitive airways
Reduce inflammation that already exists
Should take daily if have day symptoms >2 times per week or night symptoms > 2 times per month
Always use holding chamber
Brush teeth or gargle, rinse, spit after use to prevent thrush
Asmanex Twisthaler
(mometasone furoate)
AeroBid and AeroBid -M
flunisolide
Azmacort
triamcinolone acetonide
QVAR 40 mcg and
QVAR 80 mcg
beclomethasone dipropionate HFA
Flovent HFA 44 mcg; Flovent HFA 110 mcg;
Flovent HFA 220 mcg; fluticasone propionate
Pulmicort Turbuhaler and Pulmicort Respules
budesonide inhalation powder and budesonide inhalation solution

40. Combination Medication
Controllers
FLOVENT: inhaled steroid - reduces airway inflammation
SEREVENT: long-acting bronchodilator keeps airways open
Take 1 inhalation AM and PM
Built-in dose counter
Brush teeth or gargle, rinse, spit after use to prevent thrush
DOES NOT GIVE QUICK RELIEF!
Advair 100/50
Flovent 100 mcg and Serevent 50 mcg
Advair 250/50
Flovent 250 mcg and Serevent 50 mcg
Advair 500/50
Flovent 500 mcg and Serevent 50 mcg

41. Non Steroid Anti Inflammatory
Prevent episodes by blocking release of chemicals that cause airway inflammation and muscle tightening
Prevent symptoms when exposed to triggers that cannot be avoided: exercise, cold air, animals, etc.
Taken year round or only during seasonal allergies
DOES NOT GIVE QUICK RELIEF!
Cromolyn Sodium Inhalation Solution
Intal Inhaler (cromolyn sodium)

42. Leukotriene Modifiers
Prevent episodes by interfering with actions that trigger inflammation and muscle tightening
Used for mild asthma or in combination with other meds
Must take daily
DOES NOT GIVE QUICK RELIEF!

43. QUESTIONS?