Asthma Research Paper

Words: 2011
Pages: 9

CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Children and Asthma

Abstract
This paper will discuss the impact asthma has on a child and their family. It will place emphasis on the strains asthma places on the child and their parents. The physiological aspect of asthma as well as its triggers will be reviewed, along with its prevalence in today’s society. I will examine how the five developmental domains of child and adolescent development pertain to asthma. Asthma will also be applied to two family theories; the Family Systems Theory and the Family Stress and Coping Theory. I will write about the physiology of asthma, prevalence, developmental domains and theories.

The American Lung Association (2003) defines asthma as an inflammatory condition of the
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It was researched that asthma has no long-term effect on growth but was associated with a delay in the onset of puberty (Balfour Lynn, 1995). Children with asthma may appear to be shorter than their peers during the prolonged preadolescent period (Balfour-Lynn, 1995). This most likely would socially affect a preteen who is a few inches shorter than the rest his friends, or a young girl who cannot talk about what cramps feel like with the rest of her menstruating friends.
Emotional and Social Development Change and stability in personality, emotional life, and social relationships together constitute emotional and social development or socio-emotional development (Papalia et al., 2002). Children with asthma can develop in a relatively normal socio-emotional state. However, due to certain social constrictions for fear of exacerbations, and anxiety over treatment guidelines; children with mild, moderate and severe asthma experience increased amounts of stress over their illness and have difficulty in maintaining a sense of well being (Ryan-Wenger & Walsh, 1994). Research indicates that asthma may have psychosocial effects on a child and that children feel restricted socially, are embarrassed about taking medication, and perceive themselves to be different (Kurnat & Moore, 1999). I imagine it would be difficult for a child with asthma to go to slumber parties. The child would probably worry about