Increase in prevalence of childhood asthma in Budapest between 1995 and 2003: is there a connection with the air pollution data or the total pollen count?

2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (5) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Endre ◽  
Sarolta Láng ◽  
Adrienn Vámos ◽  
János Bobvos ◽  
Anna Páldy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Count ◽  
Ozone Level ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
On Line ◽  
Total Pollen ◽  
Few Data

Introduction: According to the data of the Hungarian pulmonological network, the prevalence of asthma in the last 15 years has increased (almost linearly) in Hungary. In 2004 it was 1.8%. There are only a few data about the prevalence of childhood asthma. Aims: The aim of the authors was to measure the prevalence of bronchial asthma in childhood in Budapest in 1995, 1999 and 2003, using questionnaires directed to district pediatricians. Methods: There were only two questions in these questionnaires: how many children are in their districts, and how many are suffering from asthma? Besides of this survey the dust, CO, NO 2 and SO 2 concentrations in the air were measured on-line at 8 points in Budapest, while ozone level measurements were also made at 2 stations. The counts of pollen and of fungal elements in the air were calculated separately for Buda and for Pest. Results: In 1995, replies were received from 118 pediatricians in 11 districts, who were responsible for the supervision of 104 060 children, out of these 1.88±0.87% had been diagnosed as having asthma. In 1999 replies were sent by 153 physicians in 22 of the 23 districts, who had a total of 142 679 children under their care. These included 3228 asthmatics, i.e. a prevalence of 2.26±0.95%. In 2003 the authors received answers from all of the 23 districts of Budapest. The 204 pediatricians were responsible for the supervision of 176 049 children. The number of patients with the diagnosis of asthma was 4712 (corresponding for a prevalence of 2.68±1.3%). The increase between 1995 and 1999, and between 1999 and 2003 was highly significant (p < 0.0001). This significant increase was valid even when the authors analysed only those 11 districts, which answered already in 1995. The level of air pollution in Budapest did not deteriorate in the period in question, and the concentration of pollen grains of plants causing allergy did not increase compared to previous years. Conclusions: On the basis of the results of more than 100 thousand children, the authors conclude that between 1995 and 2003 the proportion of asthmatic children increased by 50% in Budapest, while the air pollution did not deteriorate and the pollen concentration from sensitizing plants did not increase.

Use of face masks and allergic rhinitis from ragweed: why mention only total pollen count and not air pollution levels?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gennaro Liccardi ◽  
Matteo Martini ◽  
Maria Beatrice Bilò ◽  
Manlio Milanese ◽  
Paola Rogliani
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Pollen Count ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Total Pollen

scholarly journals Monetizing the Burden of Childhood Asthma Due to Traffic Related Air Pollution in the Contiguous United States in 2010

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7864
Author(s):  
Minaal Farrukh ◽  
Haneen Khreis
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Cost Calculation ◽  
Cost Burden ◽  
Incident Cases

Background: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) refers to the wide range of air pollutants emitted by traffic that are dispersed into the ambient air. Emerging evidence shows that TRAP can increase asthma incidence in children. Living with asthma can carry a huge financial burden for individuals and families due to direct and indirect medical expenses, which can include costs of hospitalization, medical visits, medication, missed school days, and loss of wages from missed workdays for caregivers. Objective: The objective of this paper is to estimate the economic impact of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a common traffic-related air pollutant in urban areas, in the United States at the state level. Methods: We calculate the direct and indirect costs of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to NO2 using previously published burden of disease estimates and per person asthma cost estimates. By multiplying the per person indirect and direct costs for each state with the NO2-attributable asthma incident cases in each state, we were able to estimate the total cost of childhood asthma cases attributable to NO2 in the United States. Results: The cost calculation estimates the total direct and indirect annual cost of childhood asthma cases attributable to NO2 in the year 2010 to be $178,900,138.989 (95% CI: $101,019,728.20–$256,980,126.65). The state with the highest cost burden is California with $24,501,859.84 (95% CI: $10,020,182.62–$38,982,261.250), and the state with the lowest cost burden is Montana with $88,880.12 (95% CI: $33,491.06–$144,269.18). Conclusion: This study estimates the annual costs of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to NO2 and demonstrates the importance of conducting economic impacts studies of TRAP. It is important for policy-making institutions to focus on this problem by advocating and supporting more studies on TRAP’s impact on the national economy and health, including these economic impact estimates in the decision-making process, and devising mitigation strategies to reduce TRAP and the population’s exposure.

scholarly journals Household mold exposure interacts with inflammation-related genetic variants on childhood asthma: a case–control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Li Hua ◽  
Quan-Hua Liu ◽  
Shu-Yuan Chu ◽  
Yue-Xin Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Mold Exposure ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background A number of studies have examined the association between mold exposure and childhood asthma. However, the conclusions were inconsistent, which might be partly attributable to the lack of consideration of gene function, especially the key genes affecting the pathogenesis of childhood asthma. Research on the interactions between genes and mold exposure on childhood asthma is still very limited. We therefore examined whether there is an interaction between inflammation-related genes and mold exposure on childhood asthma. Methods A case–control study with 645 asthmatic children and 910 non-asthmatic children aged 3–12 years old was conducted. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammation-related genes were genotyped using MassARRAY assay. Mold exposure was defined as self-reported visible mold on the walls. Associations between visible mold exposure, SNPs and childhood asthma were evaluated using logistic regression models. In addition, crossover analyses were used to estimate the gene-environment interactions on childhood asthma on an additive scale. Results After excluding children without information on visible mold exposure or SNPs, 608 asthmatic and 839 non-asthmatic children were included in the analyses. Visible mold exposure was reported in 151 asthmatic (24.8%) and 119 non-asthmatic children (14.2%) (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.62–2.97). The rs7216389 SNP in gasdermin B gene (GSDMB) increased the risk of childhood asthma with each C to T substitution in a dose-dependent pattern (additive model, aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.57). Children carrying the rs7216389 T allele and exposed to visible mold dramatically increased the risk of childhood asthma (aOR 3.21; 95% CI 1.77–5.99). The attributable proportion due to the interaction (AP: 0.47, 95% CI 0.03–0.90) and the relative excess risk due to the interaction (RERI: 1.49, 95% CI 0–2.99) were statistically significant. Conclusions In the present study, there was a significant additive interaction between visible mold exposure and rs7216389 SNP on childhood asthma. Future studies need to consider the gene-environment interactions when exploring the risk factors of childhood asthma.

Nebulisers in childhood asthma

1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 23-24
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Brief Treatment ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Effective Prophylaxis ◽  
At Home

Six years ago we concluded that nebulised bronchodilators were often useful in asthma but were not a substitute for effective prophylaxis.1 Nebulisers are now widely used. Hospital consultants can prescribe them and GPs often lend them for brief treatment at home; many parents of asthmatic children buy them. When do children need nebulised treatment, and what are the safeguards?

scholarly journals Respiratory function declines in children with asthma associated with chemical species of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Nagasaki, Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoonhee Kim ◽  
Eun Ha Park ◽  
Chris Fook Sheng Ng ◽  
Yeonseung Chung ◽  
Kunio Hashimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
Children With Asthma

Abstract Background The differential effects of PM2.5 fractions on children’s lung function remain inconclusive. This study aimed to examine whether lung function in asthmatic children was associated with increased PM2.5 fractions in urban areas in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan, where the air pollution level is relatively low but influenced by transboundary air pollution. Methods We conducted a multiyear panel study of 73 asthmatic children (boys, 60.3%; mean age, 8.2 years) spanning spring 2014–2016 in two cities. We collected self-measured peak expiratory flow (PEF) twice a day and daily time-series data for PM2.5 total mass and its chemical species. We fitted a linear mixed effects model to examine short-term associations between PEF and PM2.5, adjusting for individual and time-varying confounders. A generalized linear mixed effects model was also used to estimate the association for worsening asthma defined by severe PEF decline. Back-trajectory and cluster analyses were used to investigate the long-range transboundary PM2.5 in the study areas. Results We found that morning PEFs were adversely associated with higher levels of sulfate (− 1.61 L/min; 95% CI: − 3.07, − 0.15) in Nagasaki city and organic carbon (OC) (− 1.02 L/min; 95% CI: − 1.94, − 0.09) in Isahaya city, per interquartile range (IQR) increase at lag1. In addition, we observed consistent findings for worsening asthma, with higher odds of severe PEF decline in the morning for sulfate (odds ratio (OR) = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.77) and ammonium (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.84) in Nagasaki city and OC (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.15) in Isahaya city, per IQR increase at lag1. The significant chemical species were higher on days that could be largely attributed to the path of Northeast China origin (for sulfate and ammonium) or both the same path and local sources (for OC) than by other clusters. Conclusions This study provides evidence of the differential effects of PM2.5 fractions on lung function among asthmatic children in urban areas, where the Japanese national standards of air quality have been nearly met. Continuous efforts to promote mitigation actions and public awareness of hazardous transboundary air pollution are needed to protect susceptible children with asthma.

GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE P1 GENE POLYMORPHISM AND AIR POLLUTION AS INTERACTIVE RISK FACTORS FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Epidemiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. S138
Author(s):  
Yung-Ling Lee ◽  
Ying-Chu Lin ◽  
Yeu-Chin Lee ◽  
Jiu-Yao Wang ◽  
Tzuen Ren Hsiue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Gene Polymorphism ◽  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Glutathione S Transferase

Emergency Room Visits of Asthmatic Children, Relation to Air Pollution, Weather, and Airborne Allergens

1998 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Zion Garty ◽  
Evsey Kosman ◽  
Eli Ganor ◽  
Victor Berger ◽  
Limor Garty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Emergency Room Visits ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Airborne Allergens

Effect of Vitamin D Adjuvant and Allergen Specific Immunotherapy on Serum IL-10 and IL-17 Levels in Childhood Asthma: A Controlled Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-181
Author(s):  
Lobna A. El-Korashi ◽  
Ola E. Nafea ◽  
Lamiaa G. Zake ◽  
Faika Arab ◽  
Reham H. Anis
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Specific Immunotherapy ◽  
Pediatric Asthma ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Atopic Asthma ◽  
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroid ◽  
Allergen Specific Immunotherapy ◽  
Few Data

Background: 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (VitD3) can improve the effect of allergenspecific immunotherapy (SIT). Few data is available about its role in childhood asthma. Objective: To assess the immunological and clinical efficacy of VitD3 as an adjuvant to allergen specific immunotherapy in pediatric asthma. Methodology: Sixty nine children with atopic asthma were divided into three groups: a group received subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in combination with VitD3 (n=23), another group received SCIT alone (n=23), and the last group VitD3 alone (n=23). All children were assessed at baseline, and six months for rate of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) discontinuation, and serum levels of IL-10, and IL-17A. Results: In the SCIT + vitD3, ICS discontinuation rate was higher compared to VitD3 alone group and SCIT alone group at the end of 6th month (P=0.555 and 0.016 respectively). The combined SCIT+ VitD3 group showed significant increase of serum IL-10 level in comparison to SCIT alone group and VitD3 alone group (P=0.000) and significant decrease in serum IL-17A level compared to VitD3 alone group (P= 0.011) Conclusion: VitD3 enhance the clinical and immunological outcomes of SIT in pediatric asthma. Further investigation is needed to evaluate this effect in a larger scale to confirm its role as an adjunct to SIT.

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