Asthma Center

2L iv ing With Asthma

Asthma is a common condition, but in mostcases it can easily be kept under control withmedication and lifestyle adjustments.

The Asthma Center at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC draws on the expertise of the hospitals Pulmonary Medicine,Allergy and Immunology Division. The regions

leading pediatric experts onlung function, breathing

sensitivities and the immune system work together to provide the highest level of care for their young patients.

This team approach capitalizes on expertise in each of these areas to greatly enhance the early diagnosis and treatment of children

with asthma, as well as to augment education on asthma awareness and prevention. Children admitted to ChildrensHospital with an asthma flare-up receive individualized

education from an asthma educator.

In addition, Childrens offers smoking cessationresources and counseling to support families in

eliminating secondhand smoke exposure a majorasthma trigger.

When you come to Childrens, you know that the treatment your child receives

will be kid-friendly, comprehensive and technologically advanced.

In most cases,

a s t h m acan easily be kept

under control with medication

and lifestyle adjustments.

3The Best of the Best

The Asthma Center at Childrens Hospitalof Pittsburgh of UPMC is outfitted withstate-of-the-art equipment and technologyto detect asthmatic conditions in childrenas young as 2 years old. Until recently,making accurate diagnoses in childrenyounger than 5 was extremely difficult.

Earlier diagnosis and more effective management of this age group decreasesthe number of cases of undiagnosed asthma, and will significantly reduce the number of emergency room visits by children with asthma.

About one-third of children with asthma are undiagnosed,

which can mean serious medical

problems if the asthma flares

up without warning.

Undiagnosed or under-treated asthma also can cause long-termlung problems for your child. The experts at Childrens have the experience and the technology to ensure an early and accurate asthma diagnosis.

Asthma testing is available at allChildrens Hospital locations. To find outmore, or to make an appointment with a Childrens pediatric asthma specialist at the location nearest you, please call 412-692-LUNG (5864).

Asthma is a breathing condition that affects about one in 10 children. It takes the form of wheezing and coughing. It can be very mild or very severe. In more serious cases, it can lead to a medical emergency in which your child cant take a breathand, if not effectively treated, could even lead to death.

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

Regarded as the most skilled and experienced team of asthma experts in the region, the staff at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC uses the latest technology to reachan accurate diagnosis of the mildest to the most severe asthmatic conditions.

To diagnose asthma, and tell it apart from other lung disorders, doctors take many factorsinto account including medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests.

These lab tests may include:

Spirometry A spirometer is a device used to assess lung function. This test can be donewhile the child is breathing normally or when the child is asked to forcefully blow out. This test can be performed on children as young as 2 to 3 years old.

Allergy testing Allergies can be evaluated quickly and relatively painlessly, in patients as young as infancy.

Exhaled nitric oxide A new test that is able to measure the amount of inflammation present in the airways of young children with asthma. The test is painless, easy to performand provides information that helps with both the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.

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Asthma triggers include:

Colds and viral infections

Allergies like dust mites, molds,pollen or animals

Bacterial infections like sinusitis

Secondhand smoke

Physical exertion or excitement

Stress

What Is Asthma?

children.

Asthma affects about

one in 10one in 10

Does Your Child Have Asthma?

If you answer yes to two or more of the following questions, your child may benefit from having an evaluation by an asthma specialist.

Does your child cough or wheeze more than a couple of times per week?

Does your child cough in his or her sleep more than a couple of times per month?

Does your child cough or wheeze during or after exercise?

Is your child missing school frequently because of problems like coughing or wheezing?

If you have been told that your child has asthma, are inhalers being used more than two times per week for flare-ups of coughing or wheezing?

For more information, please contact your childs primary care physician and call theAsthma Center at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC at 412-692-LUNG (5864).

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How Is Asthma Treated?

Today, multiple options are available to treat children with asthma successfully, easily and safely. There are two types of medication:

Long-term control medications are used on a daily basis to prevent attacks, not for treatment during an attack.

Quick relief, or rescue, medications are used to relieve symptoms during an attack.

6Faculty and Staff

Shean Aujla, MD

Patricia Dubin, MD

Todd Green, MD

Geoffrey Kurland, MD

Andrew MacGinnitie, MD, PhD

Timothy Murphy, MD

David Orenstein, MD

Jonathan Spahr, MD

Daniel Weiner, MD

Beth Allison, CRNP

John Broyles, CRNP

Lori Holt, RN, MSN, CRNP

Asthma Center Faculty & Staff

Jay Kolls, MD DirectorAsthma Center

ChiefDivision of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine,Allergy and Immunology

David Nash, MDClinical DirectorAsthma Center andAllergy/Immunology Section

Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology

Jonathan Finder, MDClinical DirectorPulmonary Medicine Section

Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine,Allergy and Immunology

Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC has been recognized as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation, consistently appearing near the top in rankings publishedby such publications as U.S. News & World Report and Child Magazine.

TO CONTINUE PROVIDINGTHE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE

to our patients and their families, and conducting our world-renowned,groundbreaking research, ChildrensHospital is building a new, environ-mentally friendly medical campus inthe Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh.When complete, this hospital will beone of the finest pediatric care facilitiesin the nation, with a variety of features to promote our focus on family-centered care,including private rooms that will allow family members to sleep overnight, as well asstate-of-the-art ambulatory care and research facilities.

Contact Us

The Asthma Center at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh ofUPMC brings together the hospitals Pulmonary Medicine,Allergy and Immunology programs. This multidisciplinaryapproach greatly enhances the early diagnosis and treatment of children with asthma, as well as education on asthma awareness and prevention.

Asthma testing is available at all Childrens locations. To find out more, or to make an appointment with a pediatricasthma specialist in the location nearest you, please call 412-692-LUNG (5864).

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Asthma CenterChildrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC3705 Fifth AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15213-2583

Childrens North2599 Wexford Bayne RoadSewickley, PA 15143

Childrens South1300 Oxford DriveBethel Park, PA 15102

Childrens EastCorporate One Office ParkBuilding One4055 Monroeville Blvd.Monroeville, PA 15146

Phone: 412-692-LUNG (5864)Fax: 412-692-6645

w w w. c h p . e d u

Looking to the Future

Asthma Center3705 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583

w w w. c h p . e d u

on lung function, breathing sensitivities

and the immune system work together

to provide the highest level of care

for their young patients.

The regions leading

pediatric experts

Renderings: Copyright 2007 Astorino | Photographs: Lisa Kyle and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center | KL/JY 0607-264 5M FI