Complex Pediatric Asthma: Beyond the Guidelines

Every Thursday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM

Nationally, 1 in 11 children have asthma, but in Chicago we see that prevalence closer to 14%. That rate is much higher in communities of color and in low-income communities—where many of our participating providers work— making this a pressing public health issue and barometer for inequality. Fortunately, even complex pediatric asthma can be managed with evidence-based asthma care guidelines that reduce morbidity and mortality. Our Complex Pediatric Asthma series curriculum is designed to expand primary care capacity in diagnosing and managing complex asthma for Chicago’s most vulnerable children and to increase best practices for pediatric asthma management in the community. We will discuss diagnosis, treatment, symptom control, and related comorbidities of the most complex cases of pediatric asthma. We welcome all community-based Pediatric and Family Medicine healthcare providers to join this series and learn how to manage complex pediatric asthma cases and improve the health outcomes of all of your patients.

Topics for Case-Based Learning and Discussion Include:

• The epidemiology and biology of asthma
• Asthma diagnosis and monitoring: definitions, history, and investigations
• Lung function testing
• Assessing asthma severity
• Pharmaceutical therapy
• Environmental control
• Patient and family education
• Schools and community partner education
• Control of asthma symptoms
• Conditions that mimic asthma
• Conditions that coexist with asthma
• Therapy resistant asthma