THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT HOW TO ENSURE A SAFE SCHOOL YEAR FOR STUDENTS WITH ASTHMA.

THAT IS AHEAD.

BUT 41ST GUEST IS AN OLDER COLLEGE STUDENT HEADING INTO HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR, WES MOHAMMED IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD.

HE IS 14.

HE JOINS US IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YES, SIR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE ALMOST 15.

>> YES, SIR.

I TURN 15 IN OCTOBER.

>> Jeff: SO AN YOU WILL TURN INTO A COLLEGE SOPHOMORE.

>> YES, SIR.

>> Jeff: WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS AGAIN.

HOW WAS FRESHMAN YEAR?

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATED THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON CAMPUS.

ALSO HAVING THAT FIRST YEAR I WOULD SAY JUST ADVENTURE OF EXPLORING COLLEGE.

>> Jeff: NOT TOO MANY GET TO DO THAT AT AGE 14.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: YOU FEEL LIKE YOU MISSED OUT AT ALL SPEEDING THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHATEVER?

>> I FELT LIKE I HONESTLY HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THAT.

SINCE SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED.

AND AT THE SAME TIME I DO FEEL LIKE THE END RESULT WAS WORTH IT.

SO IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD CHANGE, I REALLY DON'T THINK I WOULD.

>> Jeff: AND YOU WALK THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AT CO-OPINION THESE DAYS YOU GET LOOKS?

>> I DO.

>> Jeff: DOES EVERYBODY KNOW YOU ARE THERE.

>> NOT EVERYBODY BUT I'VE GIVEN SUPPORT FROM THE CAMPUS, THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE STAFF.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE LOVE THAT THE COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY FAMILY HAS EXTENDED TO ME.

>> Jeff: I BET EVERYBODY IS FRIENDLY.

>> DEFINITELY.

I CAN SAY THAT.

I CAN SAY THAT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH TEACHERS LIKE?

WE GET A VETERAN PROFESSOR WHO LOOKS IN THE CLASS AND THERE IS A BUNCH OF 18, 19, 20-YEAR-OLDS AND THE YOUNG MAN WITH A BOW TIE IS THE BOW TIE A THING?

BOW TIE NOT EVERYDAY.

SOME DAYS IT'S POLO SHIRTS AND KHAKIS NOW AND THEN, YES.

>> Jeff: HOW DO THE TEACHERS TREAT YOU?

>> THE TEACHERS BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM MY PROFESSORS AS FAR AS IN CLASS, AND ALSO CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING I MAY NEED HELP WITH.

THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE WHO SUCCEED IN LIFE HAVE EITHER SOME GREAT INHERENT NATURAL ABILITY OR SOME MAJOR DRIVE AND AMBITION.

ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE MORE THAN THE OTHER?

>> I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE I AM.

MY DRIVE IS REALLY JUST TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE.

I'VE BEEN INSTILLED WITH A LOT FROM MY FAMILY AS WELL A LOT OF MY MENTORS AND SUPPORTERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

FOR ME IT'S TRYING TO REACH THE SKY AND GO BEYOND THAT.

DEFINITELY.

>> Jeff: YOUR MOM IS WITH YOU WHO IS TERRIFIC.

DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON AND STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT.

WHEN DID YOU START ACCELERATING YOUR ACADEMIC TRACK?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED MY MOM.

MY MOM IS DEFINITELY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE I AM TODAY.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD SAY HONESTLY MAYBE SINCE BIRTH I HAVE BEEN PUT ON WHAT SHE CALLS AN ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM.

THAT IS CONSISTENT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL JUST ADVANCEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

>> Jeff: YOU DIDN'T GET SUMMERS OFF?

>> NO, NOT USUALLY.

EVEN OVER THE SUMMER I WAS PRACTICING STUDYING ON THINGS I MAY HAVE MISSED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

I STILL HAD A LOT OF FUN AS WELL.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A TOPIC YOU LIKE?

>> FAVORITE COURSE?

REALLY MY HEART IS ALWAYS BEEN INTO WRITING AND IN MATH AS WELL.

THOUGH THOSE ARE THE ESSENTIALS, I FEEL LIKE THE ESSENTIALS GET YOU VERY FAR THOSE TWO HAVE BEEN MY -- THEY HAVE HAD A CLOSE PLACE IN MY HEART THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

>> Jeff: ANY SUSPICIOUS LOOKS FROM THE ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO THINKS THAT MAYBE YOUNG WEST WAS THE FIRST ONE TO FIGURE OUT A.I.

AND WASN'T WRITING ALL THOSE GREAT PAPERS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SINCE MY INTRODUCTION TO A.I., I'VE DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT INTEGRITY.

BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT I'VE NEVER USED A.I.

ON SCHOOL WORK UNLESS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

BUT I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THE ABILITY.

>> Jeff: QUESTION YOUR INTEGRITY.

I WAS MAKING A JOKE.

SO MATH AND ENGLISH.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: FROM YOUR TIME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE CITY TO NOW, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TEACHER?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO NAME NAMES?

>> THAT PART.

>> Jeff: SOMEBODY YOU THOUGHT THIS PERSON GETS ME.

>> DEFINITELY.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT TEACHERS EVEN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ALL THE WAY UP TO COLLEGE NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DIFFERENT TEACHERS SUCH AS I BELIEVE MY MATH TEACHER IN FIFTH GRADE I'M ALSO MY, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY HOMEROOM TEACHER UP TO KINDERGARTEN AND SECOND GRADE, I BELIEVE THAT HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THEM IF THEY ARE WATCHING WHEREVER THEY ARE.

FOR THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO ME.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE?

ARE YOU INTO MUSIC?

SPORTS?

EITHER PLAYING OR AS A SPECTATOR?

RELIGION?

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

>> RELIGION DEFINITELY COMES FIRST.

ALSO MUSIC AS WELL.

I DO LISTEN TO A FEW DIFFERENT ARTISTS NOW AND THEN IF I GET A MOMENT.

SPORTS, SPORTS, I DEFINITELY I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO GET MORE INTO SPORTS.

I DON'T KNOW.

ALSO JUST STAYING ACTIVE FOR ME GOING OUTDOORS TAKING A RIDE ON MY BIKE TAKING A WALK IN NATURE THAT IS SOMETHING I DO ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

SO I DEFINITELY PRIORITIZE THAT WHEN I DO HAVE THAT TIME TO JUST GET A MOMENT.

>> Jeff: I WAS THINKING THAT YOU'VE MISSED PARTS OF EDUCATION.

I GUESS COUPLE YEARS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL.

YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T MISS MUCH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL NOBODY HAS GREAT MEMORIES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT HIGH SCHOOL SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND YOU ENTIRELY SKIPPED IT.

>> NOT ENTIRELY.

SO LIKE I SAID, IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM THE ACCELERATION.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY OF BEING IN SCHOOL, I'VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.

A LOT OF MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES, STILL STICK WITH ME.

SO SOME THINGS, YOU KNOW, I DID HAVE TO LET GO.

BUT I DO THINK I STILL HAD A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF JUST PLEASURE OVER THE YEARS DEFINITELY.

>> Jeff: COPPIN HAS A GREAT FRATERNITY SORORITY AREA NEAR THE ATHLETIC AREA, YOU ARE PROBABLY TOO YOUNG FOR THAT.

>> THE SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES, RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN FAMILIARIZED WITH DIFFERENT FRATERNITIES.

AND I DO LIKE THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT PEOPLE CAN JOIN A BROTHERHOOD OR A SISTERHOOD AND MEET A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND STILL STICK WITH THOSE PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

I THINK THAT IS AMAZING.

>> Jeff: HOW DID YOU CHOOSE COPPIN?

FAMILY LEGACY?

>> DEFINITELY FAMILY LEGACY MY MOM IS A COPPIN ALUM.

THAT DID PLAY -- HAVE INFLUENCE OVER MY DECISION TO GO TO COPPIN.

AND STILL I THINK IT IS A GREAT SCHOOL FOR SURE.

>> Jeff: I REMEMBER A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH APTITUDE AND HE WAS NOT TALKING TO ME WHEN HE SAID IT.

THE IDEA IS SOME PEOPLE GOOD AT MATH AND IT COMES NATURALLY, THEY BLOW THROUGH IT GETTING STRAIGHT A'S.

ALGEBRA AND CALCULUS BUT THEY REACH A POINT IN COLLEGE WHERE SUDDENLY IT'S HARD AND UNLIKE YOU, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK HARD BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD TO.

YOU ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT?

>> I FEEL LIKE HARD WORK PLAYS A ROLE.

THOUGH I DO THINK MY MATH ABILITIES HAVE GOTTEN ME FAR STUDYING, PRACTICING, ASKING FOR HELP IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING I AM AFRAID TO DO.

WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW SOMEBODY OUT THERE HAS THE ANSWER.

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES ON CAMPUS WHEN I MAY BE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY.

AND I WILL DEFINITELY HAD THAT HELP.

>> Jeff: WAS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU WOULDN'T DO IT I'M WEST MOHAMMED I'M NOT ASKING FOR HELP?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT MY MOM DID RAISE ME TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN NECESSARY.

BUT THERE WAS THAT MOMENT WHERE I HAD TO REALIZE THAT FOR MYSELF.

THAT I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.

>> Jeff: THE OTHER OCCURS OF THE HIGH APTITUDE IS WHEN SOMEBODY IS ON AN ACCELERATED PATH THERE IS A PRESUMPTION THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING PHENOMENAL WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AS YOU'VE DONE WITH THE FIRST 14 YEARS.

DO YOU FEEL THAT?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE I GOT TO BE THE ONE TO CURE CANCER OR WHATEVER IT IS OR WALK ON THE MOON?

OR MAYBE I MEAN DO YOU HAVE CAREER AMBITIONS?

>> I DEFINITELY DO.

FOR ME, IT MAY NOT BE WALKING ON THE MOON IT MAY NOT BE CURING CANCER.

WHAT I'VE HAD MY EYES ON IS ADVANCING THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN BALTIMORE.

SO SOMETIMES THAT I TELL MY MOM THAT WHEN I AM BLESSED IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO POUR INTO THE PLACE THAT RAISED ME, BALTIMORE.

SO I AM THINKING OF STARTING A COMPANY MAYBE IN THE FUTURE YEARS THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR STORY LIKE ME AND ALSO JUST DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED TO PUT THEIR SKILLS TO WORK AND TRY SOMETHING NEW.

>> Jeff: WHAT KIND OF COMPANY?

>> WHAT KIND OF COMPANY?

IT MAYBE IN THE REALM OF CYBERSECURITY BUT FOR NOW I'M STILL GIVE TO GO THOUGHT.

>> Jeff: THE WORLD MOVES FAST BUT WEST MOHAMMED MOVES FASTER.

DELIGHTFUL TO TALK WITH YOU AND ALL ROOTING FOR YOU.

WEST MOHAMMED IS A RISING SORE MORE AND A RISING 15-YEAR-OLD AT COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: APPRECIATE IT.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

[*] [*] >> Jeff: PULMONOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH ASTHMA.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO ASTHMA IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC DISEASE DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD.

AND WE TAKE EXTREME PRECAUTION IN GIVING CERTAIN PLANS TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE ASTHMA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A CHILD IS ABLE TO ATTEND TO HAVE A GOOD FULL ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL AND ARE NOT LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE ASTHMA.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL ALSO KNOW THE GAME PLAN AND ARE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN TAKING CARE OF THE CHILD WHEN IT COMES TO AN ASTHMA EXASERBATION.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED IT IS A COMMON CONCERN.

HOW COMMON IS IT?

MAYBE IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF 500 KIDS HOW MANY MIGHT HAVE ASTHMA?

>> SO WHEN WE LOOK AT NATIONAL STATISTICS CLOSE TO IF YOU TAKE A SCHOOL CLASS OF 30 CHILDREN, THREE OUT OF 30 WILL HAVE ASTHMA IN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND USUALLY IN SOME DATA SHOWS THAT MARYLAND ASTHMA IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

IF YOU WERE TAKE 8.7% OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, MARYLAND IS HIGHER 9.5.

AND BALTIMORE CITY IN ITSELF IS HIGHER THAN THAT, TOO.

SO MARYLAND ITSELF IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER ON ASTHMA PREVALENCE AND THEN PARTS OF MARYLAND ARE HIGHER IN THAT SENSE.

SO THIS NUMBER THREE IN 30 MAYBE MORE IN BALTIMORE CITY AS COMPARED TO ANOTHER PLACE.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN SEVERITY?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO ASTHMA IS GRADED FROM MILD TO SEVERE PERSISTENT ASTHMA.

SO MILD IS WHEN YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS FROM TIME TO TIME NOT EVERYDAY.

AND MODERATE IS WHEN YOU HAVE DAILY SYMPTOMS AND SEVERE IS WHEN YOU HAVE ALL DAY EVERYDAY SYMPTOMS.

BY SYMPTOMS I MEAN COUGHING OR DRY COUGH OR SAY WHEEZING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH THAT COMES FROM TIME TO TIME.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ASTHMA IS A DISEASE SO THERE ARE CERTAIN TRIGGERS FOR IT AND THEY ONLY SHOW UP WITH THE TRIGGERS.

SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU ARE FINE.

BUT THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A FULL-BLOWN ASTHMA FLAIR.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS?

>> YES.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN TRIGGERS THAT ARE SEASONAL.

AND CERTAIN TRIGGERS THAT ARE YEAR-ROUND.

SO TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLES, LIKE IF I WERE TO TALK ABOUT FALL SEASON, BECAUSE WE ARE APPROACHING FALL, COLD WEATHER.

THE CHANGE IN WEATHER FROM A HOT AND HUMID TO A COLD AND DRY WEATHER CAN LEAD TO ASTHMA FLAIRS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRIGGERS.

THEN WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE CIRCULATION OF FLU, COVID AND RSV IN THE FALL AND WINTER.

THAT IS A HUGE TRIGGER FOR CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

ADDITIONAL TRIGGERS CAN BE HEAT OR POLLEN, SO WE SEE THAT WITH GLOBAL TEMPERATURES RISING THE WEED IS INCREASING AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ASTHMA SYMPTOMS FOR PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO RAGWEED.

OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE STRONG SMELLS ARE TRIGGERS.

AND IF YOU COME TO LIKE YEAR-ROUND TRIGGERS YOU ARE LOOKING AT DUST MITES, TOBACCO SMOKE OR SMOKE IN GENERAL.

AGAIN, STRONG EMOTIONS COULD BE A HUGE TRIGGER.

EVEN LIKE PETS, DOGS, CATS, DANDER, ANIMAL DANDER AND ROACHES, PESTS AT HOME COULD BE A TRIGGER FOR SOME PEOPLE.

MICE THOSE THINGS.

POLLUTION.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN YEAR-ROUND TRIGGERS.

IT DEPENDS WHO IS ALLERGIC TO WHAT AND WHAT ARE TRIGGERS OF CERTAIN PATIENTS.

WE DO RECOMMEND SEEING AN ALLERGIST IF YOU'VE SEEN TRENDS.

IF YOUR CHILD'S ASTHMA FLAIRS UP IN FALL AND SPRING, WE SUGGEST YOU SEE AN ALLERGIST AND GET TESTED FOR IT TO GIVE YOU A POLLEN CALENDAR AND TELL YOU WHAT PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE BEFORE THE START OF THAT SEASON.

>> Jeff: FROM THE BACK TO SCHOOL STANDPOINT WHAT WOULD GO INTO AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN FOR A CHILD MAYBE THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SEVERITY AND DIFFERENT AGES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO IN AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN THIS IS A VERY WRITTEN INDIVIDUALIZED ACTION PLAN.

IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION.

IT TELLS YOU OF COURSE, THE MAIN DATE OF BIRTH OF THE CHILD AND GIVES YOU SEVERITY OF ASTHMA.

THE PHYSICIAN CAN CHECK MARK THE SEVERITY SO PEOPLE KNOW.

THEN THERE'S THREE INSPECTIONS ON THE PLAN.

A GREEN ZONE, YELLOW ZONE AND A RED ZONE.

IT HAS A SECTION FOR TRIGGERS.

A PHYSICIAN CAN WRITE DOWN WHAT TRIGGERS THE PATIENT HAS PARTICULARLY.

AND THEN ON THE GREEN ZONE YOU WRITE DOWN THE DAILY MEDICATIONS THAT THE CHILD TAKES.

THE YELLOW ZONE IS FOR WHEN YOU ARE IN YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE A FLARE-UP OR TRIGGERED YOUR ASTHMA IS GETTING TRIGGERED THAT IS THE YELLOW ZONE BUT YOU ARE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND RED ZONE IS WHEN NONE OF THOSE MEDICATIONS ARE WORKING AND YOU ARE STILL HAVING COUGH, DIFFICULTY BREATHING THAT IS THE TIME TO CALL 911 OR GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

IT TELLS YOU IN STAININGS WHAT TO DO STAGES WHAT TO DO.

IT IS USEFUL DOCUMENT TO HAVE ON HAND.

>> Jeff: HOW CAN FAMILIES WORK WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ALSO WITH SCHOOLS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOLS STILL HAVE LICENSED NURSES ON PREMISES ALL THE TIME.

WHAT SHOULD FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO FAMILY MEMBERS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S ASTHMA TO ALL OR MOST OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILD AT ANY POINT.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN SPEND TIME IN TWO HOMES OR SOME CHILDREN WILL SPEND PART OF THEIR TIME AT THEIR GRANDPARENTS' HOME.

SO EVERYONE WHO TAKES CARE OF THE CHILD SHOULD BE AVAIL OF THAT PLAN.

YOU ASK FOR EXTRA COPIES OR MAKE COPIES AND HAVE IT ON AN ACCESSIBLE AREA SOME PEOPLE HAVE IT ON THEIR FRIDGE OR MEDICINE CABINET.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE AND SAY, HEY THIS IS THE MEDICATION AND THIS IS THE RESCUE MEDICATION.

AND EVERY -- IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO MIX IT UP.

THE MEDICATIONS UP.

SO IF THE PARENT CAN EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF THE CHILD IT'S BETTER FOR THE CHIDE AND PREVENTS ASTHMA FLAIRS.

YOU SEE BETTER OUTCOMES.

NOW, THEY CAN DO THE SAME WITH SCHOOL BY COMMUNICATING WITH THE SCHOOLTEACHER.

AND MANY TIMES MOST SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A LICENSED SCHOOL NURSE WHO WILL KEEP OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE ARE TALKING TO LIKE OUR PATIENTS THAT ALL HAVE NURSES WHO CAN KEEP ASTHMA ACTION PLANS AT SCHOOL OR A FORM THAT HAS A MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FORM ON IT AND JUST THE PHYSICIAN CAN WRITE DOWN THE MEDICATION ON IT WHEN TO USE IT.

IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT CREATES A MORE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILD AND MINIMIZES RISK.

>> Jeff: AND IT'S IMPORTANT FROM THE CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE TO DO THAT TO MINIMIZE THE RISK AND HAVE EVERYTHING READY.

BECAUSE IT JUST HAS TO BE SUCH A TRAUMATIC THING TO HAVE AN ASTHMA ATTACK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT, SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES THAT IS TRUE.

I THINK WHAT ANYONE NEEDS AND ESPECIALLY A PATIENT WITH ASTHMA IS UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISEASE.

AND FOR HIS FRIENDS IN SCHOOL AND TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE CHILD'S LIMITATION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, THAT SUPPORT IS WHAT HELPS THEM ENCOURAGES THEM TO ALLOW PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL.

AND SO I THINK THAT COMMUNICATION AND SOMETIMES ALSO I SEE NURSES REACHING OUT TO PHYSICIANS AND PARENTS SAYING YOUR CHILD HAD AN ASTHMA ATTACK.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE INFORMATION WE GET FROM NURSES IS ALSO HELPFUL.

BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO INCREASE THE CONTROLLER MEDICATION IF NEEDED TO HELP WITH ASTHMA CONTROL.

SO IT'S BASICALLY A VILLAGE THAT IS TAKING CARE OF A CHILD WITH ASTHMA AND INPUT FROM ANYONE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PHYSICIAN AND THE FAMILY.

>> Jeff: WHAT KIND OF LIMITATIONS WOULD A CHILD WITH ASTHMA HAVE?

IF THERE'S RECESS PERIOD OR ATHLETICS YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS?

>> YES.

SO MOST OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN ARE MORE IN THE PE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION SIDE WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE HAVE AN ASTHMA FLAIR AFTER RECESS OR AFTER SPORTS OR PE SESSION.

WHICH IS WHY THAT INFORMATION IS BROUGHT UP TO THE TREATING PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEN THAT CAN BE MENTIONED IN THE FORM OR IN THE PLAN.

OR AT ANY POINT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING JUST SAY IT TO THE DOCTOR AND THEY CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE IN THE PLAN.

THERE ARE WAYS TO ACTUALLY HAVE MEDICATION ADMINISTERED BEFORE RECESS AS WELL TO PREVENT AN ATTACK AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDED ON THE PLANS ALSO.

>> Jeff: HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA IN EITHER CHILDREN OR ADULTS?

I'M THINKING THE RESCUE INHALER THING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME, RIGHT?

>> YES.

ASTHMA IT IS A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE HAVE ALBUTEROL WHICH IS THE RESCUE INHALER THAT IS IS BEING GIVEN A BRONCHODILATOR IT RELAXES THE MUSCLE OF THE AIRWAY.

AND NOW MORE RESEARCH COMBINATION OF INHALERS USED AS CONTROLLING AND RESCUE.

AND IT'S JUST AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE A FEW MEDICATIONS APPROVED TO BE USED BY A LOT OF RESEARCHERS OUT THERE.

THESE ARE NOT FDA APPROVED YET.

WE ARE WAITING ON APPROVAL FOR THESE KIND OF USE OF THESE MEDICATIONS AS RESCUE.

WE ARE USING ALBUTEROL AS RESCUE IN SCHOOLS.

>> Jeff: POSSIBLE TO PREVENT SOMEONE IF YOU KNOW IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY AND DOESN'T RUN IN THE FAMILY BUT IF YOU HAVE REASON TO SUSPECT THAT A CHILD MAYBE PRONE TO DEVELOPING THIS, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO PREVENT IT?

>> YES.

SO ASTHMA HAS A HUGE GENETIC PREDISPOSITION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT LEAD TO CERTAIN FLARE-UPS.

SO MANY FAMILIES WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE ASTHMA ALREADY START NOTICING SIGNS EARLY ON IN THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY THEMSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED ASTHMA BEFORE.

I THINK EDUCATION BY THEIR OWN WAY HELPS THEM RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS IN THEIR CHILD.

BUT IS THERE A WAY TO PREVENT?

SO PREVENTING INFECTIONS, YOUNGER KIDS WHO ARE BORN PREMATURE GIVING THEM VACCINATION AGAINST COMMON INFECTIONS LIKE RSV, INFLUENZA AND COVID VACCINATIONS ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN PATIENTS WHO ARE PRONE TO HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

>> Jeff: FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

DOCTOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

THE COMPTROLLER WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND GET MORE MARYLANDERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

JOIN US FOR "STATE CIRCLE" FRIDAY EVENING AT 7.

YOU CAN FIND OUR PAST PROGRAMS VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.