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Asthma incidences increasing

With incidences of asthma almost doubling in the past decade, medical experts yesterday stressed the importance of early treatment and management of the disease.

Asthma is an allergic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by coughing, breathlessness and in more serious cases, wheezing.

According to research done in the field of allergies, incidences of asthma in Taiwan have risen from 1.3 percent of the population in 1974, to 10.79 percent in 1994, and 19 percent in 2002.

Director at the National Taiwan University Hospital's Department of Pediatrics Chiang Bo-luen (江伯倫) said that increases in asthma in children and adolescents have been especially prevalent with peak incidences occurring in children aged three to four.

In studies he cited involving middle school-aged children, incidences of asthma were found to be highest in Taipei and lowest in eastern parts of Taiwan.

Trend

"This trend may be explained by the fact that there isn't as much air pollution in the east," Chiang said.

Environmental irritants, he said, included traffic-related air pollutants, mites, animal fur and pollen.

Chief of the Chang Gung Children's Hospital's Department of Pediatrics Huang Jing-long (黃璟隆) said asthma was a systemic disease belonging to a group of allergies including Allergic Rhinitis (AR) and Atopic Dermatitis (AD), and that the prevalence of AD as a toddler increased the likelihood of getting both Asthma and AR.

Referring to factors found to be associated with incidences of allergic conditions, Chiang said, "Interestingly, studies have shown that if the mother is educated above senior-high-level, there are higher incidences of asthma in their children. In families where the average income is over NT$60,000 (US$1,878), incidences of Allergic Rhinitis are also higher."

Huang said a possible explanation for the relationships described was that the above factors, such as having a higher income, decreased exposure to infections which, according to "hygiene theory," tips the balance between cells which help ward off infections and those which help fight allergies.

Although environmental factors can affect the severity of asthma, a genetic predisposition towards allergies was considered a prerequisite, particularly in cases where the mother was affected.

Chiang said some factors which helped to control asthma included diet, exercise, removal of the sources of irritants and the use of medication.

Avoid cold, oily foods

He added that cold foods and oily foods should be avoided, while vegetable and fruit intake should be increased. Vitamins C, E and B-carotene were also said to help ward off asthma.

Swimming was especially recommended as it increases lung capacity and helps children to adjust to temperature changes, which is often a cause of asthma attacks.

Lai Hsiang-ju (賴香如), health education professor at National Taiwan Normal University, warnedd that rigorous exercise should be preceded by warm up exercises, that there should be plenty of rest breaks in between and winding-down exercises to finish.

Huang emphasized the importance of early detection, saying that very often, asthmatic symptoms were mistaken for colds and that parents sadly restricted their children from many activities to suppress the symptoms, instead of seeking treatment.

"In the long term, this may have psychological effects, with children feeling like outcasts when they are excluded from games and activities, which is when a lot of team-building and bonding occurs," she said.
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