Asthma is a common chronic disease among children in the United States.[1]

In 2006, 9.9 million children under 18 years of age were reported to have 
ever been diagnosed with asthma; 6.8 million children had an asthmatic
episode in the last 12 months.[2]

The hospitalization rate for asthma remained at 27 per 10,000 children from
2002-2004.[3]

Asthma is the third ranking cause of non-injury related hospitalization among
children less than 15 years of age.[4]

Although asthma deaths among children are rare, 195 children under 18 years
of age died from asthma in 2003.[3]

1.Wang LY, Zhong Y, Wheeler L. Direct and indirect costs of asthma in school-age children. Prev Chronic Dis
[serial online]2005 Jan [date cited]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0053.htm
2. Bloom B, Cohen RA. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2006. National
Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(234). 2007
3. CDC Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality, 2005.  See http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/
ashtma03-05/asthma03-05.htm
4.  Kozak LJ, DeFrances CJ, Hall MJ. National Hospital Discharge Survey: 2004 annual summary with detailed
diagnosis and procedure data. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 13(162). 2006