CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

by the numbers

Did you know that asthma affects over 4.9 million children in the U.S. and is a leading cause of missed school days? Asthma leads to more school absences and hospitalizations than any other chronic illness in children. Symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath, and can be triggered by environmental conditions like allergens, irritants in the air or extreme weather conditions, as well as activities such as exercising or playing sports. 

 

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​Here’s a look at the numbers:

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NO. 1

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children

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6 MILLION

The number of children ages 0-17 in the US that have asthma

(That’s 1 in 12 children)

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1 in 20

children with asthma are hospitalized yearly

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13 MILLION

The number of missed school days (children ages 5-17)

linked to asthma each year

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50%

 

of people with asthma have at least

one asthma attack each year

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84%

of children in Alaska with asthma also have

an allergy (such as food, drug, seasonal, other)

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Most children with asthma are diagnosed

before the age of

5​​

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F

The rating the America Lung Association gave

Fairbanks North Star Borough for year-round particle pollution

Ranking 16th in the nation for highest year-round particle pollution

(Anchorage Municipality and Mat-Su Borough received a passing grade of C;

Juneau City & Borough received an A)​

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If your child has asthma, work with their healthcare provider to develop an Asthma Action Plan to manage their asthma. Get a written Asthma Action Plan form at bit.ly/45ChaM1. 

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Sources: The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America