Childhood asthma, the most common childhood disease has greatly increased in prevalence in the last 15 years. However, the estimates of childhood asthma prevalence have not included undiagnosed asthmatic children. Research suggests that a substantial proportion of asthmatic children are undiagnosed. A unique asthma surveillance system has been developed and is being conducted in all public middle schools (192,486 children) in North Carolina to measure both diagnosed and undiagnosed asthmatic children. The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) collaboratively developed a mark optical scan questionnaire which includes an adapted ISAAC [International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood] section). Children were shown five video scenes of children having real asthma attacks and the school children then self identified their symptoms even if they had no knowledge of asthmatic disease. Data was collected on diagnosed asthma and asthma symptoms. Preliminary data indicate that North Carolina has a high prevalence of currently diagnosed asthma (10%) and wheezing (19%) in public middle school children, for a combine total of 30% of children reporting some type of asthmatic symptoms. Of those children reporting wheeze, 37% are very likely to have undiagnosed asthmatic disease. DHHS will use the public school surveillance data to help local community asthma coalitions target interventions in areas with a high prevalence of asthmatic disease.
Learning Objectives: nderstand the strengths of using a video questionnaire to identify symptomatic children 2. Comprehend the magnitude of diagnosed asthma and undiagnosed wheezing prevalence and its associated risk factors (both environmental exposures and medical management "exposures" 3. Understand how to apply this useful surveillance system to their state
Keywords: Asthma, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.