Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes problems getting air in and out of the lungs. Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing. These symptoms are triggered because the body reacts to environmental changes such as allergens or changes in temperature. Appropriate treatment for asthma can reduce the risk of further attacks. Asthma that is not treated appropriately may cause permanent lung damage, and on rare occasion, death.
National guidelines for treating children with asthma in the hospital recommend using reliever medication (like albuterol) and systemic corticosteroid medication (oral and IV medication that reduces inflammation and controls symptoms) in the severe phase and gradually cutting down the dosage of medications to provide control of the asthma symptoms:
- CAC-1. Reliever Medication
This measure tells you the percentage of children with asthma who were given reliever medication (like albuterol) while hospitalized. Relievers are medications that relax the bands of muscle surrounding the airways and are used to quickly make breathing easier.
National guidelines for treating children with asthma recommend using relievers in the severe phase and gradually cutting down the dosage of medications to provide control of asthma symptoms.
Although there are guidelines for medication therapy for children with asthma, there is evidence that these guidelines are not being consistently followed. Using the appropriate medications will lower the risk of severe illness and/or death.
Higher percentages are better.
- CAC-2. Systemic Corticosteroid Medication
This measure tells you the percentage of children with asthma who were given oral or IV steroid medications while hospitalized. These medications work in the body as a whole, rather than just on the lungs. They help reduce inflammation and control allergic reactions.
Oral or IV steroid medications control severe asthma well. That is why they are important for hospital care. Unfortunately, they can cause serious side effects when used long-term. That is why they are mainly used for severe episodes or chronic severe asthma, which cannot be controlled with other medications (like inhaled or oral bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medications).
Higher percentages are better.
- CAC-3. Home Management Plan
This measure tells you the percentage of children with asthma and their caregivers who were given a Home Management Plan of Care document while hospitalized.
Because asthma is a chronic condition, controlling a child's asthma symptoms at home will help reduce the risk of further attacks. Knowledge about the disease and its treatment is the key to good asthma control. Asthma that is not managed effectively may lead to more visits to the hospital. Medications can help prevent asthma symptoms and attacks from starting in the first place and can reduce how often attacks happen and severity of the attacks. It is important for children with asthma and their caregivers to know how to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks before they happen.
The Home Management Plan of Care helps children with asthma and their caregivers develop a plan to manage the child's asthma symptoms and to know when to take action. It should address all of the following:
- Arrangements for follow-up care
- Environmental control and control of other triggers
- Method and timing of rescue actions
- Use of controller medications
- Use of reliever medications
Higher percentages are better.