strategy
Researching asthma
Context:
Asthma has increasingly been seen as a problem of inflammation. Researchers agree that allergy, infection, and irritating pollutants can individually and synergistically worsen the condition. Allergy may play a larger role in the observed increase in asthma prevalence worldwide. For example, the increase in asthma among Swedish military recruits parallels increases in allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and eczema, suggesting that atopia (IgE related allergy) underlies much of this increase.There are wide variations between countries in the prevalence of asthma-related symptoms. The differences in Europe are striking, with higher rates in the United Kingdom and Ireland and lower rates in southern and eastern Europe. However, comparisons between countries require more information on incidence and prevalence trends in Europe. Such comparisons would serve to generate hypotheses regarding the main risk factors involved and would guide public health policy to respond to this major threat. More surveillance of asthma incidence and prevalence is therefore needed. On the basis of sound research, public health interventions are needed to prevent the onset and exacerbation of asthma in children; environmental policies, such as the determination of air quality standards, should take account of the impact of air pollutants on children's health.
Claim:
Though little is known about the etiology of asthma, emerging science in this field indicates that asthma causation may be linked to the foetal and newborn environment during development of the immune system. This preliminary information provides an exciting potential approach to prevention and may indicate that current interventions are applied too late. Broader:
Researching diseases Facilitated by:
Promoting basic respiratory research Problems:
AsthmaOrganizations:
International Association of Asthmology European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations International Asthma Council Global Initiative on Asthma European Network on Aspirin Induced Asthma Africa Asthma Alliance International Working Group on Palaeozoic Microvertebrates International Asthma Congress References:
National Institutes of Health, USA: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma Subjects:
Medicine → Respiratory systemResearch, Standards → Research
Type Classification:
E: Emanations of other strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
