CSMC: Asthma & Allergies

Asthma and Allergies

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by following a medical management plan and by avoiding contact with environmental “triggers,” such as cockroaches, dust mites, furry pets, mold, tobacco smoke, and certain chemicals.




About the ProgramCDC’s National Asthma Control Program supports the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2010 for asthma: to reduce the number of deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, school or work days missed, and limitations on activity due to asthma ... (Read More)





Data and Surveillance Asthma surveillance data includes collection of state-level adult asthma prevalence rates; data on days of restricted activity, days in bed, days of work or school lost, physician visits, and hospitalizations due to asthma; and collection of in-depth state and local asthma data through development and testing of a National Asthma Survey ... (Read More)


General Information Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. You must also remove the triggers in your environment that can make your asthma worse ... (Read More)


Interventions Information on potentially effective interventions for asthma control, including methodology for identification of the interventions, results, lessons learned, information on the interventions themselves, a bibliography, and sample case studies of interventions ... (Read More)


Legislation and Policy Many federal and state government agencies as well as non-profit organizations, commissions, and networks carry out asthma-related activities and are involved in policy issues such as pending legislation and children’s rights at school ... (Read More)


Resources A listing of useful documents and FAQs about asthma and indoor/outdoor air pollution from federal and state agency resources ... (Read More)


Asthma’s Impact on Children and Adolescents
Provides information on CDC control programs and activities, school health… (Read More)


Healthy Youth: Asthmain Schools
Information from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotions provides asthma fact sheet, data and statistics, science-based strategies, links to other resources… (Read More)





Asthma & Allergies in the Workplace


Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by every day exposures to agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens. Agents encountered by workers can also cause allergic problems such as asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions. Examples of these work-related agents include animal proteins, enzymes, flour, natural rubber latex, and certain reactive chemicals.


NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Asthma and Allergies Provides links to NIOSH publications and surveillance information on occupational asthma and allergies, including information on agricultural workers, Diisocyanates, and animal handling.


NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Occupational Latex Allergies Provides information for health care and other workers on allergic reactions from Latex gloves.





NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Indoor Environmental QualityIncludes information on air quality and other factors that may contribute to health complaints by building occupants.


NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Skin Exposures and Effects Includes information on allergic and irritant Dermatitis and other occupational skin conditions.


NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: IsocyanatesProvides links to NIOSH publications, Heath Hazard Evaluations, and analytical and sampling methods for isocyantes.