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Asthma & your premature babyJulie GrutzmacherPUBH-6165-2 Environmental HealthDr. Patrick TschidaWalden UniversityApril 22, 2012

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+Goals of Presentation

Increase awareness of Asthma and its triggers Empower you to modify or eliminate the Asthma

triggers Reduce hospital admissions from Asthma attacks

+What is Asthma?

Swelling and narrowing of the airways that carry air to and from the lungs

Caused by some environmental irritant Increase in the production of mucus which makes

breathing even harder

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Basic Information: What is Asthma? Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm

+Impact of Asthma

Nearly 7 million children affected Among infants and children, boys are more likely to have it Black and Hispanic children at higher risk (12.1% & 7.3%) Black children more likely to die from Asthma related

complications

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2011). Who is at risk for Asthma? Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/atrisk.html

+Asthma in Illinois

In 2009, 9.2% of total population of children were found to have Asthma

Illinois has one of the nation’s highest child mortality rates from Asthma (the majority occur in Chicago & within Cook county)

Close to half of all children in Illinois (49.3%) were diagnosed with Asthma sometime between birth and 2 years of age

Illinois Department of Public Health. (2011). Asthma Burden Update. Who Has Asthma. Retrieved April 11, 2012 from http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/chronic/asthma.htm

+How do I know if my baby has Asthma? As your baby gets older, things to look out for are:

Coughing, Wheezing chest tightness shortness of breath

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2011). What are the signs and symptoms of Asthma? Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/signs.html

+What provokes Asthma attacks?

Secondhand smoke Dust mites Molds Cockroaches and pests Pets Nitrogen dioxide Chemical irritantsEnvironmental Protection Agency (2011). Asthma Triggers: Gain Control. Retrieved April 10, 2010 from

http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html

+Asthma Triggers

Secondhand smoke

Dust mites

Molds

Environmental Protection Agency (2011). Asthma Triggers: Gain Control. Retrieved April 10, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html

+Asthma Triggers Cont’d

Cockroaches, pests Pets Nitrogen Dioxide Chemical Irritants

Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Asthma Triggers: Gain Control. Retrieved April 12, 2012 from http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html

+Why is my baby at risk?

Biologically, a baby’s lungs are not mature until 35 or 36 weeks gestation

Surfactant, while present at 24 weeks gestation, is not fully present until 34 to 36 weeks gestation

Wechsler Linden, D., Trenti Paroli, E., Wechsler Doron, M. (2000). Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

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+Prematurity and Asthma

Infants born 37 weeks or less are 7% more likely than full term babies to develop Asthma

Babies born between 23 and 27 weeks gestation are at increased risk of developing Asthma in young adulthood

Crump, C., Winkleby, M.A., Sundquist, J., Sundquist, K. (2011). Risk of Asthma in Young Adults Who Were Born Preterm: A Swedish National Cohort Study. Pediatrics. 127(4), e913-e920

McCormick, M.C., Litt, J.S., Smith, V.C., & Zupancic, J.A.F. (2010). Prematurity: An Overview and Public Health Implications. Annual Review of Public Health. 32, 15.1-15.13

+What can I do as the parent?

Stop smoking Develop an action plan with your Pediatrician and

ask for a referral for services Try to reduce/eliminate as many triggers as possible

Rauh, V.A., Horton, M.K., Miller, R.L., Whyatt, R.M., Perera, F. (2010). Neonatology and the Environment: Impact of Early Exposure to Airborne Environmental Toxicants on Infant and Child Neurodevelopment. Neoreviews. 11. 363-369.

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+ References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Basic Information: What is Asthma? Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm

Crump, C., Winkleby, M.A., Sundquist, J., Sundquist, K. (2011). Risk of Asthma in Young Adults Who Were Born Preterm: A Swedish National Cohort Study. Pediatrics. 127(4), e913-e920

Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Asthma Triggers: Gain Control. Retrieved April 12, 2012 from http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html

Illinois Department of Public Health. (2011). Asthma Burden Update. Who Has Asthma. Retrieved April 11, 2012 from http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/chronic/asthma.htm

+References Continued

Krieger, J. (2010). Home is Where the Triggers Are: Increasing Asthma Control by Improving the Home Environment. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. 23(2), 139-145

McCormick, M.C., Litt, J.S., Smith, V.C., & Zupancic, J.A.F. (2010). Prematurity: An Overview and Public Health Implications. Annual Review of Public Health. 32, 15.1-15.13

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2011). Who is at risk for Asthma? Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/atrisk.html

Rauh, V.A., Horton, M.K., Miller, R.L., Whyatt, R.M., Perera, F. (2010). Neonatology and the Environment: Impact of Early Exposure to Airborne Environmental Toxicants on Infant and Child Neurodevelopment. Neoreviews. 11. 363-369.

Wechsler Linden, D., Trenti Paroli, E., Wechsler Doron, M. (2000). Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

+Additional Resources

American Lung Association. (2012). For Parents With Children Who Have Asthma. Retrieved April 18, 2012 from http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/living-with-asthma/parents-with-children.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Environmental Protection Agency

Illinois Department of Public Health

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Nemours. (2011). Asthma Basics. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/asthma_basics.html#

Wechsler Linden, D., Trenti Paroli, E., Wechsler Doron, M. (2000). Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. New York, NY: Pocket Books