In other words, you can live with it every day. Asthma is a leading cause of absence from school by children and workdays missed by parents. An estimated 14.6 million Americans suffer from asthma. It causes more than 5,600 deaths annually. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and is the number one cause of hospitalization and absenteeism.
Asthma occurs in African-American children at three times the national rate.
Asthma can be managed with proper prevention, education and support. African Americans are four times more likely to die from asthma than whites. Asthma is more common among females than males. For further information, see our Links .