According to a new results of a survey done by the Centers for Disease Control, 16.1% of high school students reported that they have asthma, and almost 38% reported an attack in the previous 12 months.  This is an amazingly high rate, and one area of concern is that these results are approximately double the incidence reported by parents in a separate survey.  The CDC is doing more research to understand the reporting discrepancy, but in the meantime, there are new recommendations for schools to more actively help the students manage the disease, and identify allergens that may trigger attacks. 

The CDC is recommending that schools take a look at allergens such as chalk, dust, mold and school bus exhaust exposure.  Teen smoking is also an issue here because smoking can certainly trigger asthma attacks.