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Asthma in non-inner city Head Start children
K A McGill1, C A Sorkness, C Ferguson-Page
1Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
Pediatrics
|July 4, 1998
Summary
Head Start programs can effectively identify preschool children with asthma, revealing a 15.8% prevalence. Early detection in at-risk populations allows for timely interventions to reduce childhood asthma morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Public Health
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Asthma significantly impacts child health, causing morbidity and mortality.
- Preschool-aged children, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, are at high risk.
- Effective screening mechanisms are needed to identify at-risk children early.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Head Start program as a tool for identifying preschool-aged children with asthma in Dane County, Wisconsin.
- To determine the prevalence of asthma within this population.
- To assess asthma-related healthcare utilization and treatment patterns.
Main Methods:
- A five-year, cross-sectional survey was conducted with parents of children enrolled in Head Start.
- An investigator-administered asthma screening questionnaire was used.
- Data collected included asthma prevalence, healthcare visits (emergency department, hospitalizations), and medication use.
Main Results:
- Physician-diagnosed asthma prevalence was 15.8% among 2215 screened children, with 98.5% parental report validation.
- Risk factors included male gender and African-American ethnicity.
- Significant morbidity was observed: 26.7% hospitalized, 54.5% with emergency department visits; most used quick-relief medications only (46.4%).
Conclusions:
- Head Start serves as an effective platform for asthma screening in high-risk, preschool-aged children.
- Early identification facilitates targeted preventive and therapeutic interventions.
- This approach offers a crucial opportunity to manage childhood asthma proactively.