Asthma Month + Public Health Emergency Ending

May is Asthma Month, so we wanted to highlight a few key facts about asthma for you!

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children. It affects more than 6 million U.S. children and leads to over 13 million missed days of school each year. Yet as common as it is, asthma can be challenging to diagnose in children. There is no one-size-fits-all set of symptoms. A solid, ongoing relationship with your child’s pediatric provider can help identify asthma risks and the best treatment for your child. ​

Pediatricians have many tools to help identify and support a child who might have asthma. The most important tool of all is the child’s medical history. Depending on their age, some children will not have wheezing during an asthma flare, but rather a chronic cough that lasts for days or appears during illness or activity. Here are some key questions your child’s doctor will need to know:

  1. How often does your child cough or wheeze during the week?
  2. Do these symptoms affect their daily activity?
  3. Does your child’s coughing or wheezing wake them up at night?
  4. What medicines have you tried and have they helped, including nutritional supplements or homeopathic therapies?
  5. Does anyone in the family have a history of asthma, environmental allergies, or other respiratory conditions?​

 

Keep in mind, many other conditions can look like or worsen asthma in children. Some of these include seasonal allergies, acid reflux, viral or bacterial infections, conditions related to a child’s anatomy, and cardiovascular issues. ​

Many tools can help diagnose asthma, and treatment and medi​ca​tions that can help a child with asthma thrive. If you think your child may have asthma, talk with your pediatrician. ​Call the office at 251-928-5568 to get an appointment scheduled.

Source: www.healthychildren.org

On May 11th, the Department of Health & Human Services ended the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. So, what does that mean for you? Depending on your health insurance policy, some of your insurance coverages may change. You can read some of the possible changes via www.cms.gov but we are also guiding our patients to check their insurance policy for changes.