A Pilot Study Involving an Asthma Management Program for Inner-city Early Head Start Children

The Early Head Start program serves lower socioeconomic inner-city children from birth to 3 years. This population has a higher incidence of asthma due to increased exposures. The primary objective of this study is: To evaluate the effect of early identification of these high risk, inner-city asthmatic infants, age 1-3 years, and early treatment with pulmicort respules on asthma morbidity (asthma symptoms and use of rescue medications), infant pulmonary functions, and use of health care resources (unscheduled clinic visits, emergency room visits and hospitalizations). To obtain pilot behavior information using Carey Temperament Scale, Bitsea and expand to Itsea if indicated.