33017 Pediatric Asthma: Diagnosing and Classifying

Course overview

Discusses the epidemiology of asthma; pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis; and differentiation between severity and control assessment components of asthma classification. According to the CDC, in 2014, approximately 6,200 children under the age of eighteen in the US have a diagnosis of asthma, and 187 deaths occurred that year due to asthma. Asthma is a serious global health problem, and its prevalence is increasing in many countries, especially in children. Asthma poses a significant burden on healthcare systems and society, and pediatric asthma also causes disruption within the family. Achieving and maintaining asthma control requires providing appropriate medication, addressing environmental factors, patient education regarding self-management, and long term monitoring to assess asthma control. When pediatric asthma is accurately diagnosed and classified, the asthma can then be effectively managed and treated using best practice guidelines. By educating nurses and practitioners regarding the assessment, diagnosis, and classification of pediatric asthma, appropriate therapies can be initiated and/or adjusted to achieve better patient outcomes.