Asthma is a condition that affects a person's breathing by causing the airways to swell and narrow, making it harder to breathe. It runs in families and can be triggered by allergens, irritants, and infections. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. More than 50% of childhood asthma is caused by allergies, especially cat allergies which account for 30% of triggers. Managing asthma involves avoiding triggers, keeping living spaces clean, and using medication or allergy treatments.

1. ASTHMAASTHMA
By: Claudia and LuciaBy: Claudia and Lucia

2. DEFINITIONDEFINITION
Asthma is a condition thatAsthma is a condition that affectsaffects aa
personperson’’s breathings breathing. Inside the. Inside the
lungs are airways called breathinglungs are airways called breathing
tubes or bronchial tubes. Withtubes or bronchial tubes. With
asthma, some of the smallest tubesasthma, some of the smallest tubes
can swell and narrow, making itcan swell and narrow, making it
harder for air to get through.harder for air to get through.

3. Who Gets Asthma?Who Gets Asthma?
No one really knows why oneNo one really knows why one
personperson’’s airways are more sensitives airways are more sensitive
than another personthan another person’’s, but we knows, but we know
thatthat asthma runs in familiesasthma runs in families. That. That
means if a kid has asthma, he ormeans if a kid has asthma, he or
she might have a parent, sibling,she might have a parent, sibling,
uncle or other relative who hasuncle or other relative who has
asthma or had it as a kidasthma or had it as a kid..

4. What causes an asthmaWhat causes an asthma
flare-upflare-up??
Different kids have different triggersDifferent kids have different triggers
and these produce an asthma flare-and these produce an asthma flare-
up (attack)up (attack)
Common triggers include:
Allergens, such as dust, pollen, furry
animals, mold
Irritants, such as cigarette smoke,
perfume, chalk dust
Infections like a cold or a flu

5. SymptomsSymptoms
There are classic asthma symptoms thatThere are classic asthma symptoms that
include:include:
 CoughingCoughing, which may be worse at night,, which may be worse at night,
keeping your child from falling or stayingkeeping your child from falling or staying
asleepasleep
 WheezingWheezing, a, a ““whistlingwhistling”” sound thatsound that
occurs when you child breathes air outoccurs when you child breathes air out
 TightnessTightness in the chestin the chest
 Shortness of breathShortness of breath, trouble breathing, trouble breathing
normallynormally
 Frequent respiratoryFrequent respiratory infectionsinfections, such as, such as
pneumonia or bronchitispneumonia or bronchitis
 Trouble breathing afterTrouble breathing after runningrunning or activeor active
playplay

6. CAUSESCAUSES
Why do some children get asthmaWhy do some children get asthma
while others do not? Why is it sowhile others do not? Why is it so
widespread?widespread?
When it comes to causes, more than 50%
of all childhood asthma is allergy-related.
Cat allergies, in particular, account for 30%
of all allergens that trigger childhood
asthma.
Asthma and allergies are often related to
each other, especially in children.

7. MORE INFORMATIONMORE INFORMATION
These symptoms occur when your childThese symptoms occur when your child’’ss
bronchial passagesbronchial passages (airways) become(airways) become
inflamedinflamed. This causes them to narrow,. This causes them to narrow,
making itmaking it difficultdifficult to getto get air in and outair in and out
of the lungs. A buildup of mucous in theof the lungs. A buildup of mucous in the
airways further aggravates your childairways further aggravates your child’’ss
asthma.asthma.

8. Hidden asthma occurs when the typicalHidden asthma occurs when the typical
asthma symptoms are not easily detected;asthma symptoms are not easily detected;
they may only show up when your childthey may only show up when your child
enages in physical activity.enages in physical activity.
No one can say for sure why childhoodNo one can say for sure why childhood
asthma is rising but many professionals andasthma is rising but many professionals and
experts believe it has a lot to do withexperts believe it has a lot to do with
contamination. Others believe that the abusecontamination. Others believe that the abuse
of vaccinations have reduced the immuneof vaccinations have reduced the immune
systemsystem’’s ability to produce antibodies.s ability to produce antibodies.

9. SolutionsSolutions
 Try to stay away from all allergens;Try to stay away from all allergens;
there are some things you can do:there are some things you can do:
 Keep your room as clean and free of dust asKeep your room as clean and free of dust as
possible.possible.
 Wash your sheets weekly in hot water.Wash your sheets weekly in hot water.
 Get rid of carpets.Get rid of carpets.
 Keep any pets out of your roomKeep any pets out of your room
 You might also need to take allergyYou might also need to take allergy
medication or have allergy shotsmedication or have allergy shots

10. GAMESGAMES
Asthma is…Asthma is…
1 .A type of allergy1 .A type of allergy
2. Pimples in your2. Pimples in your
bodybody
3. A condition that3. A condition that
affects aaffects a
persons breathingpersons breathing

11. GAMESGAMES
Asthma is…Asthma is…
1 .A type of allergy1 .A type of allergy
2. Pimples in your2. Pimples in your
bodybody
3. A condition that3. A condition that
affects aaffects a
persons breathingpersons breathing

12. The causesThe causes
1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated
2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated
3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated

13. 1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-1.More than 30% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated
2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-2.More than 50% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated
3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-3. More than 20% has asthma allergy-
relatedrelated
THE CAUSESTHE CAUSES

14. THE ENDTHE END