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Course: WB 2490
CE Original Date: November 28, 2014
CE Renewal Date: November 28, 2016
CE Expiration Date: November 28, 2018
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Key Concepts
  • Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.
  • Over the past decade, the prevalence of asthma in children and adults has increased in the United States.
  • Environmental exposures to allergens, air pollutants, and environmental tobacco smoke, and workplace exposures can cause and exacerbate asthma.
  • Control of environmental exposures can significantly improve the quality of life of persons with asthma.
About This and Other Case Studies in Environmental Medicine

This educational case study document is one in a series of self-instructional modules designed to increase the primary care provider’s knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to promote the adoption of medical practices that aid in the evaluation and care of potentially exposed patients. The complete series of Case Studies in Environmental Medicine is located on the ATSDR Web site at URL: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.html.

In addition, the downloadable PDF version pdf icon[PDF – 495 KB] of this educational series and other environmental medicine materials provides content in an electronic, printable format, especially for those who may lack adequate Internet service.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the work of the medical writers, editors, and reviewers in producing this educational resource. Contributors to this version of the Case Study in Environmental Medicine are listed below.

Please Note: Each content expert for this case study has indicated that there is no conflict of interest that would bias the case study content.

CDC/ATSDR Author(s): Germania A. Pinheiro, MD, MSc, PhD

CDC/ATSDR Planners: Charlton Coles, Ph.D., Sharon L. Hall, Ph.D.; Delene Roberts, MSMHC; Smith, Julia, MPH, CHES, Germania A. Pinheiro, MD, MSc, PhD

Peer Reviewers: Dan Middleton, MD; Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch/National Center for Environmental Health

How to Apply for and Receive Continuing Education Including the Assessment and Posttest

For more information about continuing medical education credits, continuing nursing education credits, and other continuing education units as well as access to the Assessment and Posttest, please visit https://tceols.cdc.gov.

For additional information about Environmental Medicine Education Products, please visit https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/emes/health_professionals/index.html.

Accrediting Organization
Accrediting Organization Credits Offered
accrediting organizations
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education external icon(ACCME) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Nurses Credentialing Centerexternal icon (ANCC), Commission on Accreditation The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity provides 1.75 contact hours.

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.external icon (NCHEC) Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designed for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 1.5 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 0. CDC provider number GA0082.
International Association for Continuing Education and Trainingexternal icon (IACET) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.2 IACET CEU’s for this program.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

Disclaimer

The state of knowledge regarding the treatment of patients potentially exposed to hazardous substances in the environment is constantly evolving and is often uncertain. In developing its educational products, ATSDR has made a diligent effort to ensure the accuracy and the currency of the presented information. ATSDR, however, makes no claim that the environmental medicine and health education resources discussed in these products comprehensively address all possible situations related to various substances. The products are intended for educational use to build the knowledge of physicians and other health professionals in assessing the conditions and managing the treatment of patients potentially exposed to hazardous substances. The products are not a substitute for a health-care provider’s professional judgment. Please interpret the environmental medicine and the health education resources in light of specific information regarding the patient and in conjunction with other medical authorities.

Use of trade names in ATSDR products is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Disclosure

In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use. CDC, our planners, and the presenters for this seminar do not have financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters. This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use. There was no commercial support for this activity.

department of health and human services logo

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
Environmental Medicine Branch

Page last reviewed: December 29, 2014