Health Education Program to Alleviate Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Asthmatic Children

Abstract

Asthma is the most common pediatric chronic disease. It affects an estimated 235 million individuals worldwide. Asthma is a public health problem for all countries regardless of level of development. It is under- diagnosed and under-treated, creating a substantial burden to individuals and families and possibly restricting their activities for a lifetime. Poorly treated asthma can lead to school absence, hospitalization and death (WHO, 2017a).

According to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA, 2016) asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is defined by the history of respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and/or cough that vary over time and in intensity, with variable expiratory airflow limitation.

Recent studies have been proposed that children with bronchial asthma had an increased risk of psychological comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Accordingly, they might not seek help for asthma, take prescribed medication or follow their asthma action plan leading to additive functional impairment, increased asthma burden, and increased hospitalizations (Tedner et al., 2016, Sami et al., 2016 and AA, 2015).