May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Asthma & Allergy Quick Facts*:

More than 100 million people in the United States have asthma and/or allergies. Some people may have more than one of these conditions.

• More than 27 million people in the U.S. have asthma (more than 22 million adults and 4.5 million children).
• About 20 million people in the U.S. have food allergies (16 million adults and 4 million children).
• About 81 million people in the U.S. have rhinitis due to nasal allergies, also called “hay fever” (67 million adults and 114 million children).3,4
• Asthma is a leading chronic illness among children and adolescents in the United States.
• Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism.
• In 2020, 5.8% of children under the age of 18 had asthma
• There is no cure for asthma or allergies.

These numbers paint a picture of how many people in the U.S. are managing asthma and allergies. But they don’t paint a picture of the overall impact these diseases have on people, their caregivers, and communities.

*Info courtesy of Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (aafa.org) & NASN

Asthma Management Education Online

(Course thru Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)

The AME-O course is based on the NAEPP’s “Four Components of Asthma Management” as presented in the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP)’s Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma Summary Report and the 2020 Focused Updates to the guidelines.

The course has 10 lessons and four exams that you complete at your own pace. Respiratory therapists can earn 8.75 contact hours from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Nurses can earn 8.75 contact hours from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).

 REGISTER FOR ASTHMA MANAGEMENT EDUCATION COURSE HERE

Asthma & Allergy School Nurse Resources/Continuing Education

NASN Virtual Courses (Free for Members):

Guidelines-based Care for the School Nurse to Create Healthy Environments for Children with Asthma

When 2 Puffs May Not Be Enough: Equity in Asthma Care

Evidence-Based Decision Making - "As-Needed" Inhaled Corticosteroid Therapy for Pediatric Asthma

Distinguishing the Differences and Delivering Care for COVID-19, Asthma and the Flu at School

Allergy & Anaphylaxis: Clinical Practice Guidelines and Toolkit for School Nurses

Allergies & Anaphylaxis Additional Resources for School Nurses:

Managing Asthma in Schools:  A Guide for Schools, Courtesy of Allergy & Asthma Network

Managing Allergies in Schools: A Guide for Schools, Courtesy of Allergy & Asthma Network

Webinars from Allergy & Asthma Network

NASN Resources: Allergies & Anaphylaxis

NASN Resources: Asthma