Indiana
Asthma attacks, allergen flare ups hit 'peak week' in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — According to the Indiana Department of Health, nearly 1-in-10 adults and 1-in-15 kids in Indiana live with asthma.
Doctors say the third week of September is “Asthma Peak Week,” typically when asthma episode numbers are at their worst. Indiana Department of Health says common asthma triggers are:
- Allergens, such as pollen, pet hair or dander, and mold
- Changes in weather
- Chemical irritants
- Pests such as cockroaches or dust mites
- Exercise
- Outdoor air pollutants
- Respiratory infections such as common cold, flu, or COVID-19
- Stress
- Tobacco and wood smoke inhalation
Dr. Kristen Anderson is a pediatrician at Riley Children’s Health. She joined Daybreak on Monday to discuss why attacks and allergens flare up this time of year.
“Asthma is a disease of the airways that causes them to be more reactive to triggers, and this is the time of year that we start to see those triggers really increase,” Anderson said. “So, allergens, specifically ragweed and mold, are increased. We’re seeing more illnesses with kids back in school and then the weather changes. All of that leads to more asthma attacks.”
Anderson says childhood asthma is one of the primary causes of school absences.
“Schools will send kids home if they have cough congestion, fever or parents choose to keep them home. But also sometimes with asthma, they need more frequent albuterol treatments or they’re maybe breathing more difficult – so parents want to watch them at home. Or they’re missing school because they’re actually in the hospital being treated for their asthma,” Anderson said.
She says parents should take their kids to the hospital if there are any breathing concerns.
“Anything where they’re short of breath, they can’t talk in full sentences, you’re seeing those extra muscle uses – (like) they’re tugging by their neck or at their ribs – those would all be E.R. visits,” she said. “You could consider going to your regular doctor if they need more frequent albuterol or if they’re not responding to their albuterol or just you’re intervening and things aren’t getting better.”
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with asthma, Anderson suggests making an “Asthma Action Plan.”
“Lay out what you should be doing at each step of illness and especially as kids are getting worse you really want to prevent those hospitalizations and intervene earlier,” Anderson said.
RIPLEY COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for two young children in Indiana.
Police in Ripley County, southeast of Indianapolis, are looing for the children who may be siblings.
The first child is 3-year-old Aaliyah Buckingham.
She was last seen wearing a pink cat shirt and tie-dye shorts.
The younger child is 1-year-old Shane Buckingham, last seen in a red shirt and diaper.
Police think both are with 45-year-old Timothy Buckingham, who was last seen driving a brown GMC truck.
Timothy is described as a 6′ 3″ white man weighing 225 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Photo of Timothy Buckingham provided by Indiana State Police
Police have not confirmed the relationship of the three, or why the children are believed to be in danger.
Anyone who sees the three are asked to contact the nearest police department.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A firefighter for the Indianapolis Fire Department was sent to the hospital Wednesday after battling a fire at a vacant house.
According to a Facebook post made by IFD, the fire happened around 10:15 a.m. at a house on Bluff Rd. IFD says that there were several complications, including limited access to fire hydrants and “interior hoarder conditions” that IFD says was due to squatters.
The injured firefighter received “slight injury,” the Facebook post said.
It took over an hour and a half to get the fire under control, according to IFD, and another hour to put out all the remaining hot spots in the building.
According to IFD, the cause of the fire is currently unknown. Their Fire Investigations Unit is working on figuring out what caused the fire.
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