Childhood asthma

Abstract

During the past two decades, childhood asthma around the world has become more common. Recent large epidemic studies in Japan and other countries have been demonstrated that the prevalence of asthma is higher in their previous studies, especially for childhood asthma. Other large studies have been indicated that the prevalence of asthma is higher in large cities. The effects on health of chronic exposure to allergens and aeropollutants have been much studied, also in relation to the increasing number of asthmatic patients. The combination of the genetic basis characteristic of asthma and indoor allergens like dust mite and atmospheric dusts to the increasing frequency of asthma has been emphasized, and recent Japanese lifestyles have been proposed as a possible factor. Therefore, these recent observations indicate the necessity of up-to-date strategies for therapy and for patient education against childhood asthma.