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Burden of wheezing illness among U.S. children reported by parents not to have asthma
E J Silver1, E F Crain, K B Weiss
1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Insights
Asthma prevalence in U.S. children may be underestimated. Children with wheezing alone experienced significant illness burden, suggesting undiagnosed asthma cases exist.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition in children.
- Accurate prevalence data is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the 12-month prevalence of asthma and wheezing in U.S. children.
- To compare the illness burden between children diagnosed with asthma and those with wheezing alone.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional telephone survey of 712 primary caretakers of 1388 children.
- National probability sample using random-digit dialing.
- Health interview instrument designed to identify chronic health conditions.
Main Results:
- Children with asthma and wheezing reported more episodes, sleep disturbances, and speech-limiting attacks.
- Children with wheezing alone experienced a significant illness burden, indicating potential underdiagnosis.
- Medical treatment utilization was higher in the diagnosed asthma group.
Conclusions:
- The asthma prevalence in children may be underestimated when relying solely on diagnostic labels.
- Wheezing alone in children represents a substantial health burden that warrants attention.
- Further research is needed to identify and manage undiagnosed asthma in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
We examined the 12-month prevalence of asthma and wheezing among U.S. children and compared the illness-related burden of children who wheezed with and without an asthma diagnosis. Data were obtained in a cross-sectional telephone survey that tested the performance of a health interview designed to identify children with chronic health conditions. Respondents were 712 primary caretakers of 1388 children under 18 years old in a national probability sample selected by random-digit dialing. Although 51 children identified with asthma and wheezing had more episodes, sleep disturbances, and attacks that limited speech, and received more medical treatment for wheezing than 69 children with wheezing alone, the "undiagnosed" children appeared to be only somewhat less affected by their wheezing. Repeat episodes and burden experienced by children with wheezing alone suggest that the asthma prevalence may be underestimated if based only on the diagnostic label.