Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a common condition characterized by respiratory distress, including wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. These symptoms result from narrowing of the small air passages, which is a result of irration of the bronchial tubes by allergic reactions. Asthma attacks may be very serious and require emergency medical attention.

What should teachers know about asthma?

Teachers should be aware of students who have asthma, and what allergens may trigger a student's asthma attacks. They should know if the student has physical limitations. Prescription medication (usually inhalers) should be available to the student in the classroom. During and after an attack, the student should be allowed to relax and not be forced to perform as usual in class. Teacher's should educate classmates about the nature of asthma and prepare them for understanding asthmatic attacks.

Some links about asthma

• Allergy and Asthma Network / Mothers of Asthmatics
• Allergy and Asthma Rochester Resource Center - provides information on allergies and asthma, geared for doctors, patients, and their families
• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• Asthma Control - information on controling asthma form GlaxoWellcome.
• Asthma Education - often misdiagnosed and improperly treated, better asthma education amongst health care providers and the general public is needed.
• Asthma Information Center - information intended for physicians, pharmacists, journalists, researchers and other health care professionals as well as for patients and parents of children with asthma
• Asthma@thrive - breathe freely here. Offers basic information, interactive tools, expert advice, and supportive communities for parents, teens, and kids
• Canadian Lung Association: Asthma Resource Centre
• Colorado HealthNet Asthma Center - provides general info and lists centers and resources in both Colorado and nationally.
• Doctor's Guide to the Internet - Asthma - A guide to asthma-related information and resources likely to be of interest to medical professionals and/or patients.
• Ed's Asthma Track - resources for parents of asthmatic children, especially those newly diagnosed
• Getting Over Asthma is Possible - how to get out of asthma and of all psychosomatic illnesses.
• International Conference on Paediatric Asthma 1998
• Occupational Asthma
• Patient's Guide to Asthma
• FAQ - Allergy and Asthma - General information about allergies and asthma, with some discussion of children's special needs. Links to related Web sites
• FAQ - alt.support.asthma - This is the asthma general information FAQ for the newsgroup alt.support.asthma. It should be of interest to anyone who has asthma, or knows anyone else who does.
• Usenet - alt.support.asthma