University Medical Center Foundation

Asthma & Respiratory Fund

 

Asthma is the leading reason why children miss school in El Paso.

Asthma affects more children in Texas than any other chronic disease and is the third ranking cause of hospitalization of children under the age of 15.  For many, the first option for treatment is a trip to the emergency room.  An astonishing one in three children with asthma went to the emergency room with an asthma attack last year.  Most ED visits are not needed if families are provided new strategies in asthma education and intervention to take control of their child's asthma, follow asthma action plans and use medication and controllers.

Pediatric asthma is a growing problem.  Asthma rates continue to increase in the United States.  Minority populations along the border are especially at-risk.  Fifteen per cent of West Texas children are affected by asthma.  Poor literacy and lack of knowledge about asthma management compounds the threat.

 

Although asthma cannot be cured it can be controlled. 

With proper self-management children adapt well to asthma and can function as healthy active children in virtually all areas of life.  Education regarding proper asthma self-management empowers families to successfully manage their child's asthma, avoids trips to the Emergency Room, reduces missed school days by children and missed work days by adults.  Asthma management affects quality of life for the entire family.

 

The Value of Asthma Education

The only hospital in El Paso with a registered asthma educator in-house and a staff of fully-licensed respiratory therapists, University Medical Center Foundation's Respiratory Department has taken a lead in community asthma education, conducting Asthma Management Classes, working on-site with school nurses and hosting bi-ingual Asthma Buster Day Camps to help families gain confidence in managing their child's asthma in the long-term.

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