The proportion of students with asthma increased by 2 points, in 3rd and 5th grade. Air pollution, allergens and lifestyle are the main culprits for this increase.
Asthma in schools continues to grow. A study published in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) indicates that it is the most frequent chronic disease in children. Far from stabilizing, it is progressing slowly but surely among elementary and college students.
More than 14,000 children of CM2 and 3th were followed up as part of this investigation. In these two levels, the prevalence of asthma greatly exceeds that of the general population: 14% and 16% against 9%. But the constant and regular progression worries researchers more: the proportion of cases has further increased by two points in 5 years.
Allergens and air pollution
Environmental risk factors are the main culprits for this increase. The researchers evoke “temporal trends” closely linked to air allergens, air pollution and even tobacco. The way of life begins to play a significant part in the causes of asthma. Diet should especially be observed as obesity is associated with an increased risk of asthma. The place of life should not be ignored either: not all French regions are exposed to the same risk, or to the same symptoms.
Researchers also observe that the manifestations of asthma do not progress in the same way. While the dry nocturnal cough increases by 3%, wheezing, including on exertion, increases by 1.5%. These symptoms have been reported by nearly 4 out of 10 asthmatics in the past year … but more than a third of college students do not have their asthma controlled, which skews these data.
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