Every year at an asthma camp in Santa Maria, elementary school-age children with asthma can learn about their disease, talk with others who understand their condition, and participate in hands-on adventures that most children don't get to experience.

Camp Wheez, which is free for all participants, was held Aug. 4 to 8 at Orcutt Presbyterian Church. It was founded more than three decades ago by Dr. Myron Liebhaber, a physician in Santa Barbara who specializes in childhood asthma. Children from first to sixth grade are eligible to attend.

From Monday through Thursday, campers rotate between a “lung class,” a “lung lab” and crafts, and meet together at the end for recreation time.

In the “lung class,” they learn about the respiratory system, asthma medications and triggers, and how to manage their asthma.

At “ lung lab,” they practice using medical equipment to treat their asthma, including peak flow meters, spacers and nebulizers. The most “hands-on” experience there is touching actual lung specimens, using gloves, that are lent to the camp by Marian Medical Center. The hard, white spots of lung cancer marbled into the tissue and the evident shrinkage from emphysema mutely warn of the dangers of smoking.

The camp also includes craft time and recreation, with Medical Director Rani Kokatnur on hand in case the children have any problems while exercising. Parents attend an informational workshop, which was conducted this year by Kokatnur, and their children perform skits and cheers for the parents. On Friday, the children go on a field trip.

Sandra Leyva, 43, of Lompoc, heard of the camp from Kokatnur. She was “very impressed” by what she saw from observing the classes and activities with her 10-year-old son, Daniel Leyva, who has asthma.

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Daniel didn't want to go at first, but he had warmed up to the experience by the third day of camp. Now, he likes it so much he recommends it to other children with asthma.

“I think it's a pretty cool camp,” Daniel said. “They give you a lot of good tips about asthma and how to avoid getting asthma” attacks.

He's learned that his asthma attack triggers include dust and cold weather. And he had never touched a lung specimen before.

“I thought it was a little amazing,” he said. “I've never seen lungs before. It's weird.”

The camp is free, thanks to sponsorship from the American Lung Association. But the camps at two other local locations, Ventura and San Luis Obispo, have been canceled this year due to lack of participation. About 30 campers were registered for the Santa Maria camp this year, and Johnson said many hadn't heard about it until they read an article in the Times.

“I think a lot of people are just not aware of camp,” said Heather Johnson, director for the Santa Maria camp. Johnson, who is the program coordinator for the Santa Maria office of the American Lung Association, has been the Santa Maria camp's director for more than seven years.

Johnson knows there are many more children in the community with asthma who don't attend camp. And the ones who have usually come back the next year.

“They love it,” Johnson said. “They come back because it's so much fun ... Most of it is, we need to get those newer campers out there who haven't experienced it yet.”

For more information about next year's camp, contact Johnson at 928-3233 or e-mail her at hjohnson@alac.org.

LOCAL NUMBERS:

In Santa Barbara County, about 10 percent of children had been diagnosed with asthma at one point in their lives as of 2005, the most recent year data was available.

In San Luis Obispo County, about 22 percent of children in the county had been diagnosed as of 2005.

-SOURCE: The California Health Interview Survey, a statewide phone survey, conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

ASTHMA BASICS

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways. Asthma breathing problems usually happen in asthma “episodes,” or attacks, but the inflammation of the airways is continuous.

Asthma episodes, or attacks, result in narrowed airways, which cause difficulty in breathing and “wheezing.”

An asthmatic's lungs are excessively sensitive to stimuli such as viral infections, pollen, mold, sudden temperature changes, cigarette smoke, stress and exercise.

Asthma can be a life-threatening disease if not properly managed. However, deaths due to asthma are rare among children.

Asthma medications help reduce underlying inflammation in the airways and relieve or prevent airway narrowing. Two classes of medications are used two treat asthma: anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators.

- SOURCE: American Lung Association.

ONLINE RESOURCE:

For more information about asthma, visit the American Lung Association Web site at www.lungusa.org.

Bettina Adragna can be reached at 739-2220 or at badragna@santamariatimes.com.

August 14, 2008