Systematic review of worldwide variations of the prevalence of wheezing symptoms in children

Abstract

Background: Considerable variation in the prevalence of childhood asthma and its symptoms (wheezing) has been observed in previous studies and there is evidence that the prevalence has been increasing over time.

Asthma and Environmental Factors in Children

“…A wide range of current prevalence of wheeze is also observed between and within countries over time. Developed countries such UK and Australia had the highest prevalence of more than 20% whereas prevalence of less than 5% was seen in some Eastern European countries, India and Ethiopia [8,14]. Differences observed in prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in different areas may be attributed to diversity in lifestyle and environmental factors in each region.…”

“…History of dyspnea induced by exercise or contact with cold air and night cough are some other symptoms suggestive of asthma [8]. Even small differences in wording of questions about wheezing may change the fi nal results of any study [9].…”

New technologies for influenza vaccines

“…Because wheezing episodes occur in as many as one third of young children by the age of three years, a substantial number of children under 5 y are excluded from receiving LAIV. 54 The efficacy of LAIV falls by young adulthood, probably because acquired, cross-reactive immunity limits replication of the attenuated virus after IN administration. 55,56 The risk of wheezing in children and reduced efficacy in older individuals are also likely to pose challenges for the new live attenuated vaccines in development.…”

Household chemicals, immune function, and allergy: A commentary

“…In the light of that article it is timely now to consider again the ability of chemical exposure to influence sensitization to common antigens. Keywords: Immune function, allergic disease, household chemicals, volatile organic compounds, propylene glycol, glycol ethers rapid to reflect a change in the gene pool and, although it may be that the upward trend in the prevalence of allergic disease is slowing or has plateaued (Patel et al, 2008), the nature of the environmental factors that have triggered the changes remain of considerable interest (Strachan, 1989(Strachan, , 1996Ring, 1997;Kimber, 1998;Holgate, 1998;Peden, 2000;Yazdanbakhsh et al, 2002;Platts-Mills et al, 2005;von Mutius, 2007;Devereux, 2006;Pearce and Douwes, 2006).…”