What Is Asthma

How prevalent is bronchial asthma in children? To begin with, let me tell you that the figures I am going to quote will surprise you. The world may be going fanatic on AIDS and diabetes, but there are other diseases and conditions that affect even larger numbers of people all over the world. And unlike the AIDS epidemic, there is no United Nations' initiative to defeat Asthma.

Huge Numbers

It is on record that nearly 150 million people all over the world suffer from bronchial asthma. Most suffer from their early childhood. Therefore bronchial asthma in children is not something that can be brushed under the carpet. Stay away from the carpet. In fact, don't dust it anywhere near me!

Once again, unlike AIDS the numbers of asthma patients are not going to decline anytime soon. Would you believe it? The numbers are rising. Thirty years ago, barely two percent of the Swiss were asthmatic. Today, the figure is more than eight percent. Over the last ten years, the number in Europe has doubled. In Australia, the incidence of bronchial asthma in children is nearly fifteen percent.

A Disease of the Affluent

How is it that the numbers are showing such a dramatic increase? Let me give you another piece of the puzzle, as countries grow affluent, their asthmatic population increases. Even in Africa, cities that are prospering see a much larger number of sufferers as compared to villages barely a few miles away.

What is asthma? Simply put, it is a condition wherein the air passages of a person become badly inflamed or swollen. Something, either in the environment or in the body of the person causes the lining of these passages to swell up. This blocks the air going into the lungs. While for most of us, it causes discomfort in breathing, for some this can be so severe that the person can die due to lack of oxygen. Very often, asthma is caused due to an allergic reaction. It has been seen that most asthmatics are also extremely allergic to one substance or the other.

Asthma also tends to have genetic traits. If you have a blood relative who suffers, chances are that it will be passed down the line to newer generations as well. Therefore, be on the lookout for bronchial asthma in children if you or your parents have the disease.

Urbanization, cleaner living conditions and declining immunity have been blamed for the increasing incidents of bronchial asthma. It is well documented that children who are exposed to pets in their early childhood develop immunity to a number of allergens and generally tend to stay healthy. Similarly, children who have grown up on farms are much better off.

Pollution in cities and irritating smoke including tobacco smoke are also substances that seem to trigger an allergic reaction. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have children who are sensitive to smoke and tobacco.

How then do we keep our children healthy? The simple answer appears to be to live close to nature, take exercise, eat wholesome food and stay away from pollution and tobacco. While this may appear as something of a tall order, it is not too much if you want to prevent bronchial asthma in children.