Asthma is the number one chronic disease among students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over 6,500 students in CMS have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma also is the number one reason for school absence for children with chronic diseases nationally, with over 10 million days missed per year.
In addition to keeping children out of school, asthma also has a detrimental effect on participation and performance in academics and physical activities. Students with asthma may lose sleep because of nighttime coughing and be lethargic or inattentive during class time as a result. They may shy away from physical activity, fearing that it may trigger an asthma attack, or may fail to take their medication because they do not want to be seen as “different.” This often leads to embarrassment, frustration and isolation.