Asthma More Likely in Kids With Disabilities, Delays
FRIDAY, June 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Children with developmental disabilities or delays have an increased risk of asthma, a new study finds.
"This research has shown that it's not just clinicians or pediatricians that should be aware that children with disabilities and delays may also have other health problems. It's also schools, after-school programs and other community-wide programs," said study senior author Sarah Messiah. She's a professor of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health in Dallas.
"It's equally important to understand these children may not always be able to communicate their discomfort, especially when it comes to asthma," Messiah added in a university news release.
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 72,000 U.S. families with children up to 18 years old. The parents were surveyed in 2016 to 2017.
Parents were asked if their children had been diagnosed with asthma, as well as developmental delays or one or more developmental disabilities. These included behavioral disorders, movement problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, vision or hearing impairment, speech disabilities or cognitive problems (problems with mental functioning).
Children with developmental disabilities or delays had a significantly higher rate of asthma than other children, the findings showed. Those with hearing loss were most likely to have asthma, followed by those with cerebral palsy and those with a learning disability.
Ethnic minority children were more likely to have been diagnosed with both asthma and developmental disability than white children, according to the study. The results were published online June 16 in JAMA Network Open.
In the United States, more than 6 million children have an asthma diagnosis. Nearly half have missed school because of the respiratory condition.
Study co-author Dr. George Delclos is a professor of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental sciences at UTHealth. He said, "Both asthma and disabilities in children are important determinants of school absenteeism, with the subsequent risk of educational delays."
Detecting and controlling asthma early can lessen the impact it has on quality of life and missed school days, he added.
Current guidelines do not list developmental disability or delay as a risk factor for childhood asthma, the researchers noted.
"These results support advising pediatricians to screen for asthma in children with disabilities, so that interventions can be started sooner. This screening is particularly important to conduct in ethnic minorities with disabilities, given their even greater risk," Delclos said.
More information
The American Lung Association has more on asthma.
SOURCE: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, news release, June 16, 2020
Related Articles
Search Allergy Articles
What Is Chronic Sinusitis, and How Is it Treated?
Know Your Spring Allergens and the Meds That Can Help
Resolve to Keep Your Allergies, Asthma in Check in 2024
Poorer Neighborhoods Linked to Higher Asthma Rates in Kids
Healthy, Diverse Infant Microbiome Could Shield Kids From Asthma
Smoke From Wildfires Is Especially Tough If You Have Asthma. Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Asthma Inhaler Switch in 2024 Could Leave Some Patients Scrambling
FDA Expands Use of Asthma Med Xolair to Treat Food Allergies
How Common Are Co-Infections With COVID, Flu, RSV?
Texan Has Contracted H5N1 Bird Flu; CDC Calls Threat to Public 'Low'
Just 23% of U.S. Adults 'Definitely' Plan to Get New COVID Shot
Respiratory Illnesses in China Not Caused by New Virus, CDC Director Testifies
Contrary to Popular Belief, 1918 Flu Did Not Target the Healthy Young