Asthma

Asthma is growing at an alarming rate with a 75 percent increase between 1980 and 1993. Today, 17 million Americans have been diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease. Many of them are teenagers. This easy-to-read handbook helps teens understand asthma and provides them with the history, medical treatment options, and cutting edge research about asthma that will allow them to take a proactive role in the management of their illness. Teens will not only find the factual information they are looking for, but will also enjoy reading loads of interviews with other teenagers who have asthma and find out how they feel about taking medication, what it feels like to have an asthma attack, and how they deal with inquiries from their friends.

A guide to understanding and coping with asthma when you're a teenager. Provides a basic understanding about asthma, the signs and symptoms of the disease, available medical treatments, and effective coping strategies. Offers personal interviews and advice from teens who are coping with asthma. Generously illustrated and includes lots of sidebars and other visual effects.

Lisa A. Hazlett - VOYA

Although there are many asthma resources available, few are written specifically for teens. This introductory guide is written by an asthmatic, speaking directly to young teens as she defines and discusses asthma, treatments, and coping skills. A timely chapter covers education issues such as drug-free policies that often prohibit students' inhalers (a preferred treatment) in school where personnel are generally unfamiliar with the disease. Paquette provides information to assist students and parents regarding asthma advocacy. The importance of medication is stressed, recommending placement of inhalers in several locations (home, work) for quick access. Immediate treatment also is encouraged for teens who might be embarrassed among peers by the combination of an attack and the necessity of inhaler use, causing some to delay medication, a potentially deadly choice. Helpful suggestions for coping are presented from asthmatic teens and celebrities. Nevertheless the text has flaws. Although the medication section is thorough, paragraphs consistently end with recommendations for consulting a physician; one caveat would do. Other sections are truncated by directing readers to different chapters, interrupting the flow. The book is full of pictures and graphics, but some pictures are repeated frequently and others are blurry. With text exclusively black and white, the absence of color is distracting and unappealing. Recommendations for asthma-friendly homes seem overly strict-clothes in sealed bags, stuffed animals washed weekly-and it is unlikely that college-bound teens would so equip their dorm rooms, request that their roommates use unscented personal products, or refrain from smoke-filledbars. Intermediate teens might enjoy I'm Tougher than Asthma! (Albert Whitman, 1996) and older readers seeking more information can turn to Allergies and Asthma for Dummies (IDG Books Worldwide, 2000). Overall, however, Paquette provides a credible resource for young teens and parents, with end resources and definitions provided. Other "It Happened to Me" series titles cover learning disabilities, making sexual decisions, epilepsy, and more. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P M (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2003, Scarecrow Press, 176p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading., PLB. Ages 11 to 14.

Penny Paquette had her first asthma attack more than 25 years ago. She is an educational writer and former school librarian. Penny is the coauthor of Learning Disabilities: The Ultimate Teen Guide.