Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergies or irritants, colds, respiratory infections, second-hand tobacco smoke, and environmental triggers at home, school, or work.
How is Asthma Treated?
While there currently is no cure for asthma, there are things that can be done to help manage and control asthma. Take your medicine exactly as your health care provider recommends, and stay away from asthma triggers as much as possible. Remember that everyone with asthma may not take the same medication. Some medications come in pill-form and some are inhaled. It is important to take long-term control medicine even when you don’t have symptoms. Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most are mild and soon go away. Talk to your health care provider about your concerns with any side effects of your medicines.
Along with help from your healthcare provider, you can make your own asthma action plan. Decide who should have a copy of your plan, such as family members, care providers, teachers, etc.
Home Visits for Children with Asthma
Our Asthma Program offers free support to families of children who have asthma, to include:
- Home visits with the Health Department (in-person, virtual, and phone options available)
- Education and guidance relating to asthma and related medications
- Environmental assessments to identify and reduce household triggers
- Free tools to help with asthma control, such as green cleaning supplies, spacers, pillow covers, mattress covers, vacuum cleaners, and more! (available via delivery or scheduled curbside pickup, while supplies last!)
Program Eligibility
- Ages 2-18 years old
- Current resident of St. Mary’s County
This type of intervention is proven to help improve quality of life, improve Asthma education, decrease asthma-related visits to the emergency department or urgent care, decrease the number of missed days of school for children with asthma, and improve Asthma outcomes.
Youth can be referred for the asthma home visit by their healthcare provider, school nurse, hospital, or family member. For those who receive a virtual home visit, a summary report will be provided to the parents/guardians, primary health care provider for the child, and school nurse.
For more information or to sign up, please fill out the Google form linked above or call our Asthma Program Coordinator, Sareka Butler, at 240-561-1844 or 301-475-4330 ext 4356.
