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Easy Breathing
| Easy Breathing II
A Study of Asthma in Hispanic Children
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. In
Hartford, nearly half of all Hispanic children have asthma,
especially children of Puerto Rican heritage. Asthma tends
to "run in" families and the question is whether it is
inherited, that is passed down from one generation to the
next through the genes. The Study of Asthma in Hispanic
Children attempts to examine whether people with asthma
have differences in certain genes that may be more important
in determining whether someone has allergies or asthma.
Families of Puerto Rican descent who have a child over 5
years of age with asthma are asked if they would be
interested in participating in the study. The first question
asked is if both parents are of Puerto Rican heritage and if
they are, would both parents be available to participate in
the study with their child. If both parents are not
available, one parent and a sibling who does not have asthma
may participate along with the child who does have asthma.
There is no cost to the family and everything is
confidential. No insurance or managed care company will be
informed and no names are ever used in the study results.
What is required of the study participants?
- The family comes to CCMC for a one-time visit.
- Both parents fill out a very brief health history
that asks where they were born and if they have ever had
asthma. If there is one parent and a sibling without
asthma, then the parent is asked to fill out a brief
health history for the sibling.
- The parents fill out a detailed survey about their
child's asthma
- The child has allergy testing (unless recently done)
- This child has Pulmonary Function testing (unless
that has recently been done).
Blood samples are drawn from everyone in the family who
is participating in the study. EMLA cream, a special
cream that numbs the site of the blood test is applied
so the children will not feel the blood test needle. The
blood is sent to a Harvard University research lab and
the lab at Hartford Hospital. Numbers are assigned to
the blood samples. The names of family members are not
sent with the blood samples.
- Finally a tiny brush is inserted inside the nose of
the child with asthma, just for a second. A few cells
from the inside of the nose are brushed away from the
mucous membrane for testing.
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