It's autumn and many of America's youth are hitting the gridiron, flipping with the cheering squad or running laps in gym class. It's healthy, wholesome activity, a parent's dream -- unless their child happens to have asthma.
The frightening truth is children can die from asthma during sports, even if their condition isn't severe, said Dr. Jack M. Becker, chief of allergy and asthma at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
"You can be mildly asthmatic and have a severe exacerbation," he explained.
It's not that kids with asthma are any less competitive on the athletic field than their peers. Nor should they give up sports. They just have to be smart about how they play, taking special precautions to avoid an asthma flare-up.
