Asthma can be identified, controlled early in children

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - For World Asthma Day, May 4, the coalition of community and health organizations that make up the King County Asthma Forum is stressing the importance of identifying and managing asthma, the second most common childhood chronic disease.

"Asthma attacks can and should be controlled, and locally we have excellent resources and services to make asthma manageable and less burdensome," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"Asthma is the second most common chronic illness among children, but we know that asthma can be effectively managed," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "By controlling the factors in the environment that trigger asthma and by using appropriate medicine, both children and adults can enjoy healthy, active lives."

Health disparities in King County

In 2002 there were 690 childhood hospitalizations. Southeast Seattle has the highest rates of hospitalizations, followed by central and west Seattle.

Asthma prevalence is 6% among children. African Americans children are disproportionately affected, with 12% prevalence.

"Poverty and a lack of quality health care increase the risk of uncontrolled asthma," said Dr. Jim Krieger, Chief of Public Health's Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit and member of the King County Asthma Forum. "Among children, uncontrolled asthma can interfere with school and sleep and can affect overall well-being."

Asthma is a lung disease that causes breathing problems. Inflammation in the lungs contributes to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Asthma "attacks" often occur following exposure to triggers. Triggers include viral upper respiratory infections, tobacco smoke and allergens such as dust mites, mold and cockroaches.

"Asthma affects the whole family," said Penny Nelson, Executive Director of the Washington Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and chair of the King County Asthma Forum. "It is exciting seeing how a family's life is changed once they and their healthcare provider develop an asthma management plan that includes rescue and reliever medications, as well as information about decreasing the asthma triggers in their home."

Activities during World Asthma Day

On Sunday May 2nd at 9:30, the American Lung Association is sponsoring the "Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk," a 3k to 5k walk to raise funds and awareness for the fight against asthma. The Walk will begin and end in the Northwest Plaza of Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus. Families who are active in Neighborhood Asthma Committees in South Seattle and White Center are participating in the Walk. For more information, visit: www.alaw.org/support_alaw/asthma_walk

As part of World Asthma Day, families from Neighborhood Asthma Committees in South Seattle have asked local restaurants and businesses to be smoke-free for the day and to display signs that advertise their participation.

	A & B Laundromat - White Center		Oriental Bakery & Deli- Sokantheary Tea, White Center
	Bob's Quality Meats - Columbia City		Pacific Rim - Scott Lord, White Center
	Cenuduria Apatzingan - Burien		Peruvian Restaurant - White Center, Raul Villalobos
	Colortyme - Burien		Pho Mai - Charles, White Center
	Columbia City Ale House - Columbia City		QFC - Rainier Beach
	Columbia City Starbucks - Columbia City		Rite Aid - Rainier Beach
	Flap Jacks - Ned, Burien		Safeway - Rainier Beach
	Garden Donut - Neary Sun, White Center		Safeway - Rainier Valley (Othello)
	Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant - Burien		Salvadorean Bakery- White Center, Anna Castro
	Highline Tutoring and Testing Center		Taqueria Del Rio -White Center, Adela
	International Beauty College - Rainier Beach		Taqueria El Fogon - Burien
	King Donut - Rainier Beach		Teriyaki Madness #7 - Burien
	Lottie Motts Coffee - Columbia City		The Wellington - Columbia City
	Ma-now Thai restaurant - Burien		Tutta Bella - Columbia City
	Matthiesen's Flowery - Columbia City		White Center Laundromat
	Maya's Mexican Restaurant - Rainier Beach		Wonderful Teriyaki -High Point

On World Asthma Day, Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, site of the Asthma Outreach Project, will provide asthma education activities in the lobby of their clinic at 2101 East Yesler Way. For more information contact LaTonya Rogers at 206-987-7240, latonya.rogers@seattlechildrens.org.

King County Asthma Forum and King County Steps to Health

The King County Asthma Forum brings together individuals and agencies to establish an on-going asthma network to communicate about, collaborate on, and coordinate projects that improve and support asthma prevention, diagnosis, and management in King County. For more information on the King County Asthma Forum and resources in King County, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/asthma/forum.htm

For information on King County Steps to Health, a program lead by community partners and Public Health - Seattle & King County, focusing on the areas of asthma, diabetes, obesity, nutrition, physical activity and tobacco, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/steps

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