Asthma continues to be a significant health concern, with recent data indicating an increase in asthma-related hospital visits among children. According to a report, 2022 saw 12,929 emergency room visits and 2,057 hospital admissions for asthma among children aged 0-17. The numbers had previously dipped in 2020, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have since been on the rise.
Essex County recorded nearly 2,000 ER visits and over 360 hospitalizations for asthma in children, marking it as the highest in New Jersey. Camden and Middlesex counties also reported high numbers of such cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that about three out of every thirty children in a classroom may have asthma. Children from minority groups, low-income families, or urban areas are more prone to emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to asthma. Family history is another factor increasing the risk of asthma symptoms.
In New Jersey, Black non-Hispanic children accounted for 34% of asthma-related ER visits among children in 2022, followed by Hispanic children at 31%. Hospital admissions showed similar trends with Black non-Hispanic children making up 32% and Hispanic children comprising 27%.
To manage asthma effectively in children, understanding triggers is crucial. Allergen avoidance and medication prescribed by allergists can help manage symptoms. Quick relief medicines treat immediate symptoms while preventative medicines suppress future attacks. An action plan created by allergists can guide management during different stages of symptom severity.
Despite these challenges, with proper management and awareness of triggers, children with asthma can lead healthy lives.
