Asthma in Children and Youth

Asthma in Children and Youth 1
ASTHMA IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
by Student’s Name
Course Name
Professor’s Name
University Name
City, State
Date

Asthma in Children and Youth 2
Topic: Asthma in children and youth
Identify and discuss health policies that apply to the topic
Asthma is a non-communicable chronic disorder of the airways where they become
narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, which consequently makes breathing difficult,
triggering wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. The symptoms of the condition are seen
several times a week in affected patients, and it is mainly worse during the night and when
indulging in physical activities. According to Global Asthma Network 2014, 14 percent of the
children across the globe experience asthma symptoms, and 8.6 percent of young adults aged
between 18-45 have asthma symptoms and it is the most prevalent non-communicable illness in
children. Death from the conditions occurs mainly in older adults. This paper critically reviews
and evaluate Policies and practices that lead to the well-being and health of children and youth
with the condition. There are various national and state and non-governmental asthma health
policies and strategies that have been established to help in enhancing asthma health.
Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) is a WHO set program
that is aimed at promoting member states in reducing disability and early deaths attributed to
asthma. The program seeks to define the extent of the disorder, analyze its determiners, and
monitor the trends, mainly in the disadvantaged and poor communities. The surveillance
program also aims at reducing the exposure level to known risks such as tobacco smoke,
recurrent lower respiratory contaminations in childhood, and pollution of the air (WHO 2011).
World health organization promotes access to cost-effective interventions, which includes drugs
improving the standards and availability of care at various levels of the healthcare sector (WHO
2011).

Asthma in Children and Youth 3
National Asthma Strategy for 2018 defined different approaches that are important in
the fight against asthma; they include medication policy, incident, injury, trauma, and illness
policy, and asthma education policy, among others (NACA 2017). Six approaches that are
important to the condition have been recommended, including healthcare systems and finances,
homes, schools, workplaces, outdoor air, as well as public health infrastructure, which are critical
in addressing the named policies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). The
patients, families, and communities are encouraged to join the compressive public health policy
in fighting against asthma. The policy is aimed at promoting access to medication.
National Asthma Strategy is directed towards providing resources, guidelines, and
parameters towards the management of the condition. The policy advocate for quality and
affordable care for everyone with asthma. The policy supports the establishment of a culturally
competent healthcare service delivery, and data should be obtained to help in defining and taking
account of health disparities to offer relevant resources required in the management of asthma. In
addition, the policy also supports the rights of asthma patients, mainly the students, to self-carry,
administer asthma medication at any time of need.
School policy asthma 2017 is a policy describing the school supports for students with
the condition. Schools are required to establish an asthma policy if the school has a student with
the condition. The policy recommends regular updating of health records to define the incidence
of asthma and maintain the history of the students to come up with effective treatment plans for
the students with the condition. The policy supports the development of reliable public health
infrastructure, which is key to the reduction of asthma burden. Asthma is both an environmental
and chronic disorder; therefore, students with the condition should be offered an environment
that is conducive to prevent attacks (NACA 2019). The policy advocates for community

Asthma in Children and Youth 4
partnerships with schools and healthcare providers to ensure that a safe environment has been
created for all children to prevent premature deaths (Lynn, Oppenheimer & Zimmer, 2014).
Some school environments make people vulnerable to the disorder; hence, this policy supports
the presence of a safe working environment for everyone.
Asthma management Policy 2016 is a policy by the National Asthma Council Australia.
The policy is intended to educate the general public on contemporary issues emanating from
asthma. The policy identifies residential areas as the most critical environments in the
management of asthma since most asthma triggers have been identified to be highly prevalent at
home (Lynn et al., 2014). Having an unhealthy indoor and outdoor air is a threat to children and
young people at home, mainly those with asthma (WHO 2011). The policy indicates that young
individuals and children should ensure that they live in asthma-risk free houses to avoid
problems before they even arise. Air pollution is a significant risk to an asthma attack. In
addition, the policy is defined to ensure the Policymakers enforce and push for clean air in the
home indoors, outdoors and the school environment, which is of importance to asthmatic
children and young individuals. The asthma education policy promotes monitoring of air
pollutants across all communities that are at risk of asthma infection due to air pollution (NACA
2019).
Apply principles of health promotion, and primary health care relevant to the topic
The risk influences for developing asthma are inhaled materials and particles that are
likely to provoke allergic responses or affect the airways (Bereznick et al., 2013). The condition
has no cure; however, with appropriate management, the condition can be controlled, allowing
people to enjoy a good quality of life. Asthma symptoms are relieved with medications, in