3-1

MediFocus MedCenter ©

Childhood Asthma
(AM003)

Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the airways undergo changes when stimulated by allergens or other environmental triggers that causes an inability to breathe properly. There is inflammation, hyperresponsiveness and at least partial obstruction of the airways that cause both short and long-term symptoms. There is also excessive production of mucus.

The heightened responsiveness of asthmatic airways causes reactions to stimuli that trigger little or no change in the airways of normal subjects. The cause of this hyperresponsiveness is not clearly understood. There is some evidence that chronic inflammation may play a role.

The cause of asthma is multifactorial and includes both hereditary and environmental factors. Most cases of asthma are thought to be related to the presence of allergies, however not all persons with allergies have asthma and not all cases of asthma can be attributed to allergies.

Asthma is the most common chronic condition in children younger than 18 years of age. Recent estimates predict that asthma affects approximately 4.8 million children in that age group. This accounts for 5-10% of all children in the US. Children younger than 18 not only represent about one-third of all asthmatics, but the prevalence in this age group is increasing much faster than in adults.

Asthma is treated with a variety of medications, both oral and inhaled. Intravenous medications and oxygen may be necessary in acute attacks.

MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

The Medifocus Guide on Childhood Asthma provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:

This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.

© Copyright 2000-2001 Medifocus.com, Inc. All rights reserved.


Return to the MedFocus Medical Center Main Directory