Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
05:31
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Factors contributing to risks for pediatric asthma in rural Saskatchewan
Rebecca J Barry1, William Pickett, Donna C Rennie
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Rural children do not have significantly different asthma rates than small town children. Environmental factors like dampness and obesity are linked to asthma and wheeze, suggesting these explain geographic variations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rural children report lower asthma rates than urban counterparts, with unclear reasons.
- Potential explanations include environmental factors, healthcare access, and health risk behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate asthma prevalence and determinants in farm and small town children.
- Examine associations between personal, behavioral, and environmental factors and childhood asthma.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 842 school children (ages 6-13) using parental lung health surveys.
- Classified children as farm or small town dwellers.
- Employed multiple logistic regression to analyze asthma and wheeze associations with exposures, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in current asthma (16% vs. 13%) or wheeze (27% vs. 21%) between farm and small town children.
- Dampness was associated with diagnosed asthma (OR=1.85).
- Daycare enrollment showed a protective effect (OR=0.53), while obesity/overweight was linked to wheeze (OR=1.77).
Conclusions:
- Study findings support environmental and health risk behavior explanations for observed geographic variations in asthma.
- Environmental risk factors and obesity are associated with asthma and wheeze in children.
- Further research into environmental exposures and lifestyle factors is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
01:28Asthma I: Introduction
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
Classification of Asthma
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
01:13Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations
Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
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:
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: