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Discusses four chronic diseases (cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma) that affect American children. Many have their physical activities unnecessarily restricted, though sports and exercise can actually alleviate symptoms and improve their psychosocial development. Physicians are encouraged to prescribe exercise programs and advocate for these children. (SM)

Discusses the relationship between indoor air quality and productivity and a three-year research project to measure productivity within an educational setting. Also discusses research showing the impact of good indoor air quality on increasing productivity. Ten ways to manage asthma in a school environment are highlighted. (GR)

Energy performance contracting allows schools to pay for needed new energy equipment and modernization improvements with savings from reduced utility and maintenance costs. Improved energy efficiency reduces demand for burning fossil fuels, which reduces air pollution, leading to improved learning environments and budgets (through improved average daily attendance). (MLH)

School personnel must know which students have asthma, typical warning signs, and appropriate actions in an emergency. Administering appropriate medication and reducing environmental triggers are not enough. Policymaking in schools and workplaces and legislation to increase health care access and eliminate substandard housing and air pollution are essential. (MLH)

Discusses several common children's allergies, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and anaphylactic shock. Principals should become familiar with various medications and should work with children's parents and physicians to determine how to manage their allergies at school. Allergen avoidance is the best strategy. (MLH)

At Case Western University (Ohio), medical students critically analyze the quality and cost of asthma care in the community by studying patients in primary care practices. Each writes a case report, listing all medical charges and comparing them with guidelines for asthma care. Several recommendations for improved care have emerged. (MSE)

A physician addresses three health concerns of child care center directors. She provides information about the increasing number of children with asthma problems, the exclusion of ill children from child care settings, and the increasing concern about lead poisoning. (GLR)

Evaluates an educational program for inner-city children designed to improve patients' knowledge and behaviors related to asthma, in order to improve their control of the disease and thereby reduce the number of emergency room visits. Discusses the failure of this program due to failures of implementation and program effectiveness. (JS)

Employed a modified Rotter Level of Aspiration (LOA) task to assess parents' goal setting for their asthmatic, diabetic, and healthy children (N=64). Results indicated mothers of asthmatic children showed no significant goal-setting differences from comparison mothers and were less controlling. Fathers were more rigid and less accommodating and had higher LOAs. (Author/BL)

Five articles address agriculture handbook development for Sahel farmers; adult and continuing education at University of Western Australia; growth of Australian educational public broadcasting on radio; Open University's educational innovations for better teaching of science and technology; and interactive video design and the Asthma Expert Diagnostic System developed in Scotland. (MBR)

Describes the role of respiratory exercise specialists and the success of their techniques in treating asthmatic patients, especially children. Calls for research and development leading to an educational program in this field. (CH)

To explore the relationship between a child's self-concept and psychosocial processes related to the perception of time, 74 preadolescents with asthma were studied. Results suggest that females' perception of the past, present, and future are significantly associated with a host of psychosocial variables and associated with the self, males' less so. (KH)

A health education program for low-income, inner-city children with asthma was transferred from a clinical setting to the public schools. The program's emphasis placed responsibility on the child rather than the parent, making it independent of direct parental involvement. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

This article addresses the situations in which athletes with special needs and considerations participate in sports. The health problems discussed are diabetes mellitus, exercise-induced asthma, exercise-induced anaphylaxis, and epilepsy. (MT)

Lung volumes and ventilatory patterns used by 10 healthy and 14 asthmatic subjects during conversation, monologue, and counting at two loudness levels were studied. Asthmatics were found to favor respiratory over communications needs. They used a greater percentage of their reduced vital capacity, with slower inspiratory and faster expiratory flow rates than healthy subjects used. (Author/VW)

Describes childhood asthma and a program which teaches relaxation and mental imagery (RMI) exercises to children and adolescents as an adjunct in the management of asthma. Clinical experience indicates children who learn RMI rate their asthma as significantly reduced in severity, miss fewer days of school, and make fewer visits to emergency rooms. (RH)

Examination of Maryland hospital discharge data for 1979 to 1982 reveals that Black children are three times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than are White children. This, however, is due to poverty, not race. (Author/BJV)

A technology transfer project for getting initial community adoption of childhood asthma management programs is described. The evolution of the project, including development of programs, packaging considerations, establishment of partnerships, implementation, and evaluation are discussed. (Author/CH)

A study at the University of Alabama/Birmingham (UAB) compared adult asthma patients receiving a self-care workbook with those receiving only asthma pamphlets. Outcomes were assessed in five areas: (1) health care utilization, (2) functional status, (3) knowledge, (4) adherence, and (5) psychological reactions. (Author/CH)

Two groups (experimental and control) totaling 239 low-income asthmatic children, aged 8 to 11 years, were studied. One group was exposed to an asthma health education program. Findings indicate asthma health education for children increases management skills, reduces symptoms, and improves school performance. (Author/CH)

This article reviews the history of research on exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and the pathophysiology of the condition, including its development and influencing factors. Four groups of drugs that are effective against EIA--theopyhlline, beta-adrenergic agents, cromolyn sodium, and anticholinergics--are discussed. (Author/CB)

Several physicians discuss the tests they use to diagnose exercise-induced asthma (EIA), the medications they typically prescribe and why, and the importance of properly educating athletes about EIA. (JD)

The study examined the extent to which child neglect and family dysfunction have contributed to the need for hospitalization of asthmatic children. Using a measure of global functioning, psychologic morbidity is associated with medical neglect. (Author/DB)

This article provides the physical education instructor with important guidelines that should be followed when developing exercise programs for children with asthma. (IAH)

Presents the case history of a 13-year-old asthmatic boy in residential treatment in order to illustrate how experiences in the milieu can become a vehicle for a child to gain better control over separation anxiety. (CM)

A review of research on the relationship between behavior disorders and allergy and food additives. (CM)

The Halstead Neuropsychological Test Battery for Children profiles revealed that neuropsychological behavior deficits of impaired asthmatic children exist predominantly in visualizing and remembering spatial configurations, in incidental memory, and in planning and executing visual and tactile motor tasks. (Author)

The study compares school absence in children known to have asthma (N=95) with a random sample of nonasthmatic elementary school children (N=711). Children with asthma have a significantly higher absentee rate (absent 8.4 percent of days) than do nonasthmatic children (absent 5.9 percent of days). Journal Availability: American Academy of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 1304, Evanston, IL 60204. (Author/PHR)

School-related problems encountered by children suffering from asthma are investigated and several recommendations for reducing these problems are offered. (JMF)

The impact of regular physical conditioning conducted in a public school environment on children with moderate asthma is studied. Evaluation criteria are school absenteeism and severity of asthma attacks. (JMF)