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Introduction
Facts about Chidlhood Asthma
It has been estimated that in the United States, about 5% of the population age 18 or younger, or about 5 million people, suffer with asthma. Childhood asthma is a major health care concern as evidenced by the following facts:
Asthma is the most common chronic condition in children younger than 18 years of age.
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.
Until the age of 15, asthma is twice as likely to affect boys than girls. After the age of 15, asthma is more prevalent in girls.
The overall costs associated with the treatment of childhood asthma more than doubled from $6 billion in 1990 to about $13 billion in 2000.
Asthma is the number one chronic condition causing children to miss school.
Childhood asthma accounts for more than 10 million lost school days each year.
It has been estimated that one out of six pediatric emergency room visits and at least 15% of pediatric hospitalizations is attributed directly to asthma.
Despite major advances in treatment, the mortality rate from childhood asthma has nearly doubled since the 1980's.
