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World Asthma Day Boosts Awareness of Epidemic

Release Date: 5/3/2001
Contact Information: David Sternberg, (215) 814-5548

David Sternberg, (215) 814-5548

PHILADELPHIA - The number of children with asthma in the United States has more than doubled in the past 15 years. The number of affected children has risen to 5.5 million, with the most rapid increase occurring in children under five years old.

“Asthma is now at epidemic proportions and the statistics are sobering. Any parent with an asthmatic child can tell you how serious this disease is,” said EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator Thomas C. Voltaggio.

May 3, 2001 is designated as World Asthma Day to raise awareness about asthma and its causes.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Asthma Initiative was established to combat asthma in the mid-Atlantic region by making more information available to the public and the medical community about causes and control of this insidious epidemic. Members include representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Public Health Service, and multiple stakeholder groups across the mid-Atlantic region.

“Every death, hospitalization, and emergency room visit from asthma is preventable. We in the public health community must work together to ensure every child with asthma, and his or her family, has access to quality health care that includes information on asthma management, and this initiative works to do just that," said Dalton Paxman, Regional Health Administrator for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Triggers of asthma include indoor pollutants like second-hand smoke, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches and molds. Outdoors, air pollution from various sources can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function and, inflame and damage the lining of the lungs, aggravating asthma.

According to data from the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, asthma ranks among the most common chronic conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated 17.3 million persons. The prevalence of asthma in children under 18 years of age is 7.3% Direct medical costs of asthma account for 1-3% of all health care expenditures in the United States.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Asthma Initiative sponsors asthma education activities during the entire month of May. Kick-off events are scheduled during the first week of May in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, the District of Columbia, Pittsburgh, and Richmond. For more information log on to www.asthmaday.org.