Allergic asthma affects more that 24 million people in the U.S., according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergic asthma is the most common type, with 60% of people with asthma experiencing this type. Allergic asthma also is the most common type of asthma in children, affecting about 90% of children with asthma….
Treating children with asthma, cystic fibrosis and other respiratory conditions, Erica Stevens, M.D., MPH, gets to see her patients and their families over months and years. This ongoing relationship with patients and their families is a big reason why she chose pediatric pulmonology as her specialty. “The interactions I have with families are very rewarding,”…
Histoplasmosis is one of the most common types of pulmonary mycosis, an endemic fungal infection that affects the lungs. The condition also is called “Ohio River Valley fever” due to its prevalence in the area, including Kentucky. What is histoplasmosis –– and what should parents know? What causes histoplasmosis? Histoplasmosis is caused by breathing in…
Trikafta, a potential new cystic fibrosis treatment for children ages 6 to 11 showed encouraging results, improving lung function. The three-drug mixture (a combination of elexacaftor, ivacaftor and tezacaftor) is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in kids 12 and older who have at least one F508del mutation in the cystic…
Spring can be an exciting time, filled with warming weather, the end of school, graduation season and much more. We know it can be a tough time for children with allergies; but what about for children with asthma? Does asthma get worse in spring? Spring brings many asthma triggers There are spikes of hospitalizations and…
Louisville, Kentucky, is no stranger to allergies or asthma, so knowing what to look for in your child is important. Louisville routinely is ranked among the most challenging cities to live with asthma by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma can be controlled with medications and treatments, but many cases go undiagnosed. The…
Warm temperatures in Louisville and Southern Indiana bring severe weather and a jump in allergens like pollen. For some, that may mean a risk of “thunderstorm asthma.” Thunderstorm asthma occurs when strong winds and rain break pollen into tiny fragments that can slip past the body’s natural filters such as nasal hair and mucus and…
The day before Thanksgiving 2018, the Howell family was traveling from Louisville to Frankfort to visit relatives. During the drive, 4-week-old Brooks started crying. It was the beginning of the family’s journey with the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress, Type 1 (SMARD1). “It was a very different cry,” said Jessica Howell, Brooks’…
Erica Kelley was living in Arizona in 2007 when her son, Samuel, was born. Sam received his newborn screening before leaving the hospital, as is required in most states in the U.S. The screening indicated that Sam needed further testing, which showed that Sam has cystic fibrosis (CF). He was 15 days old when he…
Scott G. Bickel, M.D., was drawn to pediatric pulmonology by the bonds he would be able to develop with children and their families. He sums up his work as helping kids with pulmonary conditions lead the best lives possible and accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves. “What motivates me is seeing kids play sports…
An asthma attack in a child can be scary. Wheezing — a whistling sound especially when exhaling — is the classic sign of an attack or flare-up. Other common signs are coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. A child with asthma may only have some of these symptoms. If your child has been diagnosed…
Two years ago, 16-year-old Grant Oller had a slight cough the morning after attending a dance with friends. The cough got worse, and after he felt exhausted and developed a sore throat, he went to his pediatrician. His oxygen levels were so low that his pediatrician admitted him to a local hospital in Owensboro. The…