Health Topics
Asthma

	ON THIS PAGE Data & Statistics Science-based Strategies National, State, and Local Programs Publications & Links References

Asthma is a major public health problem of increasing concern in the United States. In 2002, 6.1 million children under 18 years of age were reported to currently have asthma and 4.2 million had an asthma attack within the previous year. On average, in a classroom of 30 children, about three are likely to have asthma.¹

In addition:
	Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. From 1994-1996, 14 million school days were missed each year due to asthma.2
	Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities experience more emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma than the general population.3
	Asthma can be controlled with proper diagnosis, appropriate asthma care, and management activities.
	In 2002, 5.8% of youth under 18 years of age experienced an asthma episode in the preceding 12 months.1
	The estimated cost of treating asthma in those under 18 is $3.2 billion per year.4
	Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15.5
	Asthma attacks, also referred to as episodes, can be caused by tobacco smoke, dust mites, furred and feathered animals, certain molds, chemicals, and strong odors in the school environment.

Asthma Fact Sheet [pdf 260K] — General information on addressing asthma in schools. Also available in accessible format as HTML.

Data & Statistics

School Health Policies and Programs Study
SHPPS is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels, including those related to asthma.

See this SHPPS fact sheet:
	Asthma [pdf 120K]
See also:
	SHPPS overview
	All SHPPS fact sheets [including accessible formats]

School Health Profiles
Profiles assists states, territories, and local education and health agencies in monitoring and assessing characteristics of, and trends in, health education and health policies among secondary schools, including policies related to asthma management.

See also:
	Profiles overview
	Profiles fact sheet [pdf 85K]

Percentage of Secondary Schools that Implemented
School-based Asthma Management Activities⁶
United States, 2002

Science-based Strategies

Strategies for Addressing Asthma
Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program offers concrete suggestions for schools working to improve the health and school attendance of children with asthma. The six strategies identified by the CDC can be effective whether your program is for the entire school district or just one school.

Guidelines for Preventing Tobacco Use
See School Health Guidelines: Tobacco Use for strategies most likely to be effective in preventing tobacco use and addiction among young people. Tobacco smoke can trigger asthma episodes.

School Health Index
The School Health Index can help schools implement these guidelines and strategies. This self-assessment and planning tool enables schools to identify the strengths and weaknesses of health promotion policies and programs and assist schools in developing an action plan for improving the school environment. CDC is in the process of adding asthma content into the School Health Index.

National, State, and Local Programs

CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) supports the development and implementation of effective health promotion policies and programs that address priority health risks among youth.

Project Partners provides information on DASH funded state, local, and territorial education agencies, and national non-governmental organizations. These partners are funded to help build and/or strengthen their capacity to improve child and adolescent health.

Program Evaluation Materials provides resources for using program evaluation to better document program activities, report achievements, and improve program effectiveness.

Publications & Links

	Publications — Selected publications on asthma.
	Links — Other programs at CDC and other federal agencies support national, state, and local efforts to address asthma.
	Publications and Links in PDF format [pdf 70K]

References

1. Unpublished Analysis of National Center for Health Statistics Data [cited August 6, 2004].
    
2. Mannino DM, Homa DM, Akinbami LJ, Moorman JE, Gwynn C, Redd S. Surveillance for Asthma—United States, 1980–1999. MMWR Surveill Summ March 29, 2002; 51(No.SS-1):1–13.
    
3. Lieu TA, Lozano P, Finkelstein JA, Chi FW, Jensvold NG, Capra AM. Racial/ethnic variation in asthma status and management practices among children in managed Medicaid. Pediatrics 2002; 109:857–865.
    
4. Weiss KB, Sullivan SD, Lytle CS. Trends in the cost of illness for asthma in the United States, 1985-1994. Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology 2000;106:493-499.
    
5. Popovic JC. 1999 National hospital discharge survey: annual summary with detailed diagnosis and procedure data. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics 2001;13(151):21, Table 10.
    
6. Whalen LG, Grunbaum JA, Kann L, Hawking J. McManus T, Davis KS. School Heath Profiles: surveillance for characteristics of
   health programs among secondary schools (Profiles 2002). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.

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This page last reviewed November 01, 2004

Department of Health Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Adolescent and School Health