A new method that determines the risk of developing asthma in the future in children with wheezing (breathing) breathing. In 30% of children this kind of breathing is detected, but only 40% of them are at risk for developing asthma.

Scientists have developed a special scale of risk identification that practitioners can use, and children from the high-risk group can be protected from exposure to factors contributing to the onset of asthma. A wheezing (wheezing) breath is a serious problem due to the narrowing of the airway lumen, both for children and for parents. In most cases, it can spontaneously disappear after a few years from the moment of appearance. Nevertheless, it is very important for doctors to be able to determine which of the children is at risk of developing asthma, and, therefore, needs early treatment.

Scientists from St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, examined 1,000 children from birth to 10 years. In the course of the study, allergies among family members, the presence of pets, parents' smoking, socioeconomic living conditions. At the age of 1, 2, 4 and 10 years, the children were examined, the allergic background and the presence of asthma symptoms. Also assessed the presence of wheezing, bronchial asthma, upper respiratory tract infections, rhinitis, eczema and food allergies. At the age of 4, children underwent a skin test to identify the most common types of allergies (on house dust, animal hair, pollen, milk, eggs and nuts). Smoking during pregnancy, cats and dogs, the type of feeding, everything had a certain value.

It turned out that by the age of 10, 40% of children had already experienced an attack of wheezing, and for most of these children this symptom appeared before the age of 4. As a rule, most children had episodic, short-term attacks of wheezing and only a third - by the age of 10 signs of spasm of the bronchi did not disappear.

Who are these children? In such children, parents and relatives in 2. 2 times more often sick with asthma. These children are 6 times more likely to have a positive skin test than children with occasional wheezing. By the age of 2 they are 2 times more likely to suffer from infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Based on the results obtained, the scientists developed a risk assessment scale for the development of bronchial asthma. The authors intend to monitor the health of children under 16 years old.

In order for any therapist or pediatrician to be able to determine if a child with wheezing has bronchial asthma, it is necessary to ask only three questions (asthma in family members, lower respiratory infections, when the last rhinitis was the same runny nose) and conduct a simple and safe skin test.

This scale of risk is more accurate than what is being used now, it does not solve all the problems, but it clearly demonstrates the effect of heredity, infections and smoking contributing to asthma and removes all accusations from cats who were previously blamed for involvement in the ailment.

medicus. en.