Ireland has the second biggest rate of asthma sufferers

IRISH children are the second biggest asthma sufferers in the EU, with only the UK reporting more cases.

Delegates attending a childhood asthma workshop in University College Cork today will hear that treatment of under 15-year-olds with asthma is expected to cost the economy an estimated €56 million this year.

Health Minister Micheál Martin, who will launch the Irish EU Health Presidency initiative, outlined some of the factors which have made asthma the most common chronic disease in childhood.

“Research has suggested that some of the increase in asthma could be due to the improvement in modern housing, where children grow up in centrally-heated, totally-sealed, very clean houses, which do not allow their immune systems to develop properly,” he said.

The Minister said childhood asthma was a major global health problem which placed a substantial burden on family, the health system and society as a whole.

“Asthma is a major cause of children going to hospital and the chief reason they miss school. There is a need for greater research on the intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (environmental) factors associated with childhood asthma, and on the prevention aspects in particular.”

In Ireland, the Minister said, the level of asthma has risen to 20% in young teenagers and up to 30% of children have displayed some asthma symptoms.

The Minister said there was a need for greater emphasis on preventative therapies to reduce morbidity and hospital admissions. He said the smoke-free initiative was a positive measure.

The figures to be presented at today’s workshop, examining the prevalence of wheeze and asthma among children in the EU, including the accession countries, were collated by the European Commission Joint Research Project, headed up by Cork man Barry McSweeney. The results of the workshop will link directly to the Irish EU Health Presidency approach to dealing with asthma, which the Minister will put to the Health Ministers’ Council in June in Luxembourg.

Facts about asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. The result is difficulty breathing.

The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.

The bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict when exposed to allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise.

The Asthma Helpline is available for the price of a local call 1850 44 54 64.