Asthma affects Riverside County children of all backgrounds, but particularly those living in relative poverty.  In order to gauge the severity of childhood asthma and its impact on health care utilization across the county, hospital emergency department (ED) data was reviewed over a three year time period. 
    It should be noted that many areas of high need are not urban centers where the highest childhood asthma rates are usually expected.  Because this data is taken from ED visits it is not an indicator of asthma prevalence, rather an indicator of where childhood asthma is uncontrolled.  The reasons for lack of control may vary from zip code to zip code.  The lack of primary care providers (PCPs) may explain why uncontrolled asthma is resulting in ED usage.  Families need to be able to access the PCP, afford medications, understand and comply with prescriptions and identify and avoid triggers. 
    Hospitalization of a child for asthma is categorized as a preventable hospitalization by national and state agencies.  According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cost of treating asthma in the hospital is almost 40 times greater than an outpatient visit.
Improving asthma symptoms and helping families gain control is the primary goal of the Riverside County Department of Public Health’s Asthma Program.  The free services include asthma education, allergen-proof mattress and pillowcase covers, medication delivery devices and an environmental assessment. Click here to read the entire brief.