Asthma is a debilitating, often terrifying, chronic disease, and the number of children in the United States who have this disease has increased at an alarming rate, more than doubling since 1980 to affect over 5 million children. Within this group, economically disadvantaged children of color living in densely populated urban areas are at the highest risk for developing asthma. However, the disease cuts across all socioeconomic and geographic boundaries, leading to the death of 600 American children each year.

Children and Asthma examines the reasons for the dramatic increase nationwide of childhood asthma rates over the last 20 years. This one-hour documentary, which will also be broadcast in Spanish on the Second Audio Program, looks at the cause and effects of asthma, while concentrating on education as the most important aspect of controlling the environmental triggers.

The film Children and Asthma includes personal stories from children and their families living in the Bay View/Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco, in Harlem and the Bronx in New York City, and in central Iowa farm country, all of whom are affected by this terrible illness. Viewers also hear from leading physicians, scientists involved in asthma studies, and educators. Children and Asthma presents evidence that controlling environmental causes and educating families about asthma can help save children's lives.

"We wanted to show that asthma is not just the problem of those who suffer from it. Asthma is everyone's problem," says filmmaker Irving Saraf. "The causes are not only in our homes, they are in the air we breathe, the schools we attend, the land we farm and the neighborhoods we live in. However, in the program, we highlight examples of proactive steps that everyone can take to lessen the effects of this disease."

TRANSCRIPT

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