Morbidity (Asthma In NZ)

Asthma, disorder of the respiratory system in which the passages that enable air to pass into and out of the lungs periodically narrow, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This narrowing is typically temporary and reversible, but in severe attacks, asthma may result in death. Asthma most commonly refers to bronchial asthma, an inflammation of the airways (Marieb, 2001).

To understand asthma, it is important to have a basic understanding of how we breathe and the anatomy of the lungs. We breathe in air through the nose and mouth and the mucosal lining of these areas are warm and moist. This means the air we breathe in is warmed and moistened before it reaches the lungs. Additionally, mucous traps all foreign particles so as to prevent them from entering the lungs, which could cause i

Stodart (1995) reflects that asthma education is not just physical care. One of the problems an educator can have working with people with asthma, is seeing the difficult social situations some are in and the problems they have in getting the help they need, such as prescriptions and doctors visits. A person may have numerous problems of which asthma is just one. An educator’s main role is to teach preventative strategies. However where appropriate, other social service agencies should be suggested for assistance with any other problems the client might have that may be impacting on their illness.

Statistics supplied by the New Zealand Asthma & Respiratory Foundation (1999) state that in our country around 450,000 people in 1993 were diagnosed with asthma. Of these, 170,000 were children aged 0 to fourteen. The rate of increase is estimated to be 50 percent every ten to fifteen years.

In many people, an asthma attack may be brought on by exposure to allergens, substances that can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible people. Pollen grains, cigarette smoking, house dust, and dust mites are some of the most common and pervasive allergens (DuBuske, 1999). The dust mite is a microscopic insect that lives in human homes, where it feeds on the dust produced by human and animal skin. Dust mites are not harmful in themselves, but their droppings, which contain left-over digestive enzymes, are a significant cause of asthma and other allergic diseases (Lowhagen, 1999).

Fergusson (1997) states that asthma educators need to acknowledge the influence of social, economic and psychological factors on education initiatives. Its argued that these factors need to be recognised and incorporated into educational programmes for a reduction in morbidity to occur. This approach would enable a patient to understand their specific patterns and early warning signs and implement improved self-management actions to reduce the severity of future attacks. It is vital that treatment programmes are targeted to meet the specific needs of the patient, allowing them to have a role in decision making about such treatment (Stodart, 1995). It is also vital that treatment programmes are targeted to meet specific needs of the patient, which could mean allowing them to have a role in decision making concerning treatments.

Dickson (1992) concurs that to establish good asthma control, it is important that a child receives regular check-ups by a health professional. It is also important that the family is taught how to monitor symptoms and know at which point to take action. The aim of asthma management is to enable normal participation in activities such as exercise, minimising school absences as 550,000 school days are lost per year due to asthma (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999), eliminating symptoms such as a night cough, and by encouraging normal healthy growth and development (Dickinson, 1992).

The average cost of an asthma admission in 1991 was $1,594. Every year, there are around 6000 hospital admissions for asthma among children alone. Using these figures the cost to New Zealand of hospitalisation for childhood asthma is at least $9.5 million each year. Up to 75 percent of children with asthma continue to suffer from the disorder through puberty and adulthood (Asthma & Respiratory Foundation, 1999

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