City children are more often sick with asthma
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Children living in unsuccessful areas are especially prone to developing bronchial asthma, which may be due to infections acquired early in life.
In a new study, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, studied the nature of viral respiratory diseases and their possible role in the development of asthma in children living in cities and suburbs.
The goal of the specialists is to understand the picture and process of viral infections for further development of methods of treating bronchial asthma in children.
Previously, scientists have suggested that different strains of viruses can cause asthma in children at an early age. They came to the conclusion that children living in large cities are much more exposed to the environment than children from suburban areas. Also, experts have put forward a version that viral respiratory tract infections can be unique for each environment.
A team of experts, led by Professor James Guern, monitored 500 children from major cities and 285 peers from suburban areas. The scientists analyzed the nasal secretions of children during their illness and when they were absolutely healthy.
It turned out that in general, city children suffered from respiratory diseases more often. In addition, the illness was aggravated by factors such as allergic reactions, adverse bacterial background and air pollution.
Specialists have found that children from the urban environment have lower rates of HRV and RSV viruses, but the level of adenovirus infections is higher than in children from suburbs.
This discovery is of particular interest to doctors, because adenovirus infection can cause inflammatory processes in the body and chronic diseases.
The authors of the study believe that the violation of lung and respiratory tract development can be caused by adenovirus infections at an early age.
Also, the results of the work of scientists are of interest for taking into account the spread of morbidity and mortality from bronchial asthma in poor areas.
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