Asthma in ChildrenImagine a young child competing with his classmates at recess and immediately losing the ability to breathe normally. He or she stops in the middle of the competition and falls to the ground while holding his chest trying to get air. When you are young, being able to keep up with your peers at recess and sporting events is very important, however, asthma limits this task. Asthma has a significant impact on childhood development, and asthma diagnoses for children aged 18 and under have increased dramatically over the years. Asthma is known as “chronic inflammation of the small and large airways” with “evident bronchial hyperreactivity, airflow obstruction and, in some patients, hypogeal fibrosis and excessive mucus secretion” (Toole, 2013). Constant re-creation of the lung walls can occur even in young children and “lead to permanent lung damage and reduced lung function” (Toole, 2013). Although one of the factors is genetic, many of the following can be prevented or managed. Obesity, exposure to second-hand smoke, and hospitalization for pneumonia early in life have been suggested to increase the risk of developing asthma in children. The most common environmental, individual, and agent factors that increase the risk of this serious childhood health problem are obesity, exposure to secondhand smoke, and hospitalization for pneumonia. In the United States, “the prevalence of childhood asthma increased from 3.5% in 1980 to 9.6% in 2009” and “according to a recent national survey targeting ages 0 to 17 in the United States, almost 25% and 13% were obese and diagnosed with asthma, respectively” (Liu, Kieckhefer, & Gau, 2013). According to t...... half of the document ......n improve medication adherence” (Toole, 2013). School-based interventions through an asthma program are clearly demonstrated to be the most practical and cost-effective way to reach children with asthma and manage their condition. Asthma is a serious respiratory condition that many children suffer from. The risk factor that should be addressed for this population is obesity. Addressing the need to keep children at an ideal weight is a simple way to reduce the chances of a child being diagnosed with asthma and to manage the condition once diagnosed. I strongly believe that schools should adopt an asthma program to reach children who suffer from asthma and who do not receive adequate treatment. These tertiary prevention programs can provide them with adequate education and maximize their quality of life from childhood to adulthood.