Asthma Center
Asthma can affect so many aspects of a child's life--playtime, schoolwork, even the ability to get a good night's sleep. So when your child has asthma, you want to do your best to keep it under control.
At the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, we can help your family find real-life solutions to your child's problem. Our team will work with you to design an effective treatment plan that will help your child stay active--and out of the emergency room.
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Here, doctors specialize in the comprehensive care of babies, children, and teenagers with mild to severe forms of asthma. Nurses, respiratory therapists, case managers, and social workers are also part of the team. They all work together to ensure that your child's asthma plan is as effective as possible.
Outpatient asthma services are available in several locations, including:
- Pediatric pulmonary outpatient offices
- Pediatric allergy and clinical immunology offices
- General pediatric outpatient offices
Wherever your child receives services, he or she benefits from the best team-based asthma care available, based on the latest national guidelines. For example, your child may receive asthma medicine and devices to help take this medicine. Our nurses and respiratory therapists will work with you and your child to ensure that you understand the care plan and that it will be easy for you to manage at home.
An Accurate Diagnosis
To determine if your child has asthma, the team will conduct a physical examination and medical history. They also may recommend the following tests:
- Spirometry, which uses a device to measure lung function
- Chest X-rays
- Blood tests
- Allergy tests
- Advanced pulmonary function tests
The University of Chicago was the first hospital in the area to offer infant pulmonary function testing, which allows doctors to accurately measure lung function and diagnose lung conditions in infants.
Following diagnosis, our asthma care team will work with your child's pediatrician to evaluate his or her treatment plan or provide second opinions when needed.
For children suffering from an acute asthma attack, Chicago Comer Children's Hospital offers state-of-the-art emergency and inpatient care.
University of Chicago Asthma Center
Comprehensive, team-based care is available for patients of all ages through the University of Chicago Asthma Center. The center's community of asthma experts works together on research, education, and clinical care to offer solutions to the growing problem of asthma, particularly among children in urban neighborhoods. Outreach efforts, including teacher and parent education, are also a top priority at the center.
Community Asthma Program
Chicago Comer Children's Hospital physicians also provide asthma screening, education, and support through a program based at La Rabida Children's Hospital. The Community Asthma Program expands teacher and parent awareness of asthma and promotes communication between doctors, families, and schools.
Research
At the University of Chicago, physicians in adult and pediatric pulmonary medicine collaborate on research funded by the National Institutes of Health. Current studies are aimed at uncovering the underlying processes in the airways that cause asthma.
In addition, physicians in the pediatric pulmonary section have worked closely with genetics experts at the University of Chicago to determine how asthma susceptibility is inherited. Studies are underway to investigate the genes that may contribute to severe persistent asthma.
Ongoing Education and Outreach
Keeping asthma under control requires education as well. Our asthma experts take the time to teach your family what you can do to help control your child's condition. We'll show you what steps you need to take to monitor your child's breathing and ways that you can reduce your child's exposure to triggers that could set off an asthma attack.
Public education and community outreach are also a priority at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital and the Asthma Center. Our asthma education programs reduce the frequency and severity of asthma, particularly among urban populations and minority groups with a high rate of asthma.
The Asthma Center has established free asthma classes and an outreach program for residents of Chicago's public housing developments. Experts at the Asthma Center also use the American Lung Association's Asthma 101 program to educate Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff on important asthma issues in the school environment.
Part of our outreach plan also involves reaching children who may not otherwise receive care for their asthma. Through the Comer Mobile HealthCare Van, we can reach children and teens in South Side schools who may not receive regular asthma care. Our traveling healthcare professionals provide screenings for asthma, treatment, and referrals for follow-up care.
In addition, Chicago Comer Children's Hospital specialists have developed an asthma discharge kit, a tool to help families to better manage a child's asthma. The kit, which is given to families of children with asthma visiting the emergency room who agree to participate in a research study, contains a variety of helpful resources, including educational brochures and tools to monitor their asthma. While in the ER, families also view a videotape that offers vital information about managing the disease. Patients who are hospitalized or visit with a pulmonary specialist in the outpatient clinics also receive helpful information on managing their condition.
