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Published on: November 5, 2010
[Rising admission of children with asthma]
1Barneavdelingen, Sentralsykehuset i Akershus, Nordbyhagen.
Insights
Pediatric asthma admissions rose significantly, with longer hospital stays for young children, suggesting increased severity. Air pollution does not appear to be the primary driver of this trend.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Context:
- The Paediatric Department at Sentralsykehuset i Akershus observed a notable rise in pediatric asthma admissions.
- This increase occurred between 1986 (197 admissions) and 1988 (318 admissions).
- A concurrent rise in hospitalization duration for children under two with recurrent asthma admissions was noted.
Purpose:
- To analyze trends in pediatric asthma admissions and related respiratory illnesses.
- To investigate potential correlations between admission rates and environmental factors.
- To assess the severity of asthma in young children based on hospitalization patterns.
Summary:
- Pediatric asthma admissions increased by over 60% in two years.
- Pneumonia admissions also saw a substantial rise, while bronchiolitis and laryngitis remained stable.
- Hospitalization frequency did not correlate with proximity to industrial or high-traffic areas, questioning the role of air pollution.
Impact:
- Highlights a growing burden of pediatric asthma and potentially more severe disease in infants.
- Suggests that factors beyond typical urban air pollution may be contributing to increased respiratory admissions.
- Informs public health strategies and clinical management of childhood asthma.
Abstract:
Admissions and readmissions of children with asthma to the Paediatric Department, Sentralsykehuset i Akershus, increased from 197 in 1986 to 318 in 1988. The hospitalization period for children under two years of age with more than one admission has increased, which may indicate more severe asthma within this age group. Admissions for pneumonia have increased from 35 to 90, while admissions for bronchiolitis and laryngitis have remained stable. The distribution of number of admissions per 1,000 of the population is irregular. The frequency of admissions is no higher for the large communities around Oslo, exposed to motorways, traffic and heavy industry, than for the more rural communities. This may suggest that air pollution is not the major cause of the observed increase in the numbers of admissions to our department.
Related Concept Videos
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Asthma-I: Introduction
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
Asthma I: Introduction
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

