Childhood Obesity at Age 8 Linked to Asthma, Allergies (ContributorNetwork)

Children who are overweight by 8 years old were found to have higher incidence of asthma and allergic sensitivity, according to a study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here are specifics on study findings and how they impact parent decisions.

Asthma and childhood obesity studies

In October, Science Daily reported obese children are twice as likely to have asthma as nonobese children. In the Pediatrics study, pediatric allergy and asthma researchers from Norway and Sweden looked at how changes in a child’s weight status may affect his predisposition to asthma allergy.

Weight gain in 7-, 8-year-olds linked to asthma problems

The study revealed those with over-85 percent body mass indexes were no more prone to asthma at 12 to 18 months or when they were tested at age 4. By age 8, children with a high BMI were at greater risk for asthma regardless of whether they had been overweight in the earlier years or not. Children were more at risk for wheezing or other problems with inhalant allergies if they were overweight at age 8.

Childhood obesity, asthma parenting implications

Study authors conclude parents should be mindful of asthma in children who have a number of risk factors in combination: BMIs over 85 percent, exposure to secondhand smoke, maternal history of obesity or parents history of asthma or allergy. Weight problems at or after ages 8 to 10 seem to predispose children to other problems as well. In 2008, Science Daily reported on a study by Kansas State University that found children with sedentary lives and high body fat had more asthma-like symptoms after exercise. In 2010, a study from West Virginia University found children of normal weight who don’t get a balanced diet or proper exercise are at greater risk for asthma. Study authors recommended parents improve nutrition and boost fitness levels, especially in school years to reduce asthma risk.

Ages 8 to 10 critical for obesity, asthma prevention

A Pediatrics study underscored the concern for obesity at age 8. Forty percent of kids begin school in the 85th percentile. Significant weight gain after ages 8 to 10, especially if not accompanied by equally significant height gain, is an indicator of lifelong obesity problems. Study authors concluded parents should build good nutrition habits early and monitor weight gain at all ages but the time for teaching good nutrition and fitness was in the early school years.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about parenting from 23 years raising four children and 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, adult education and home-school.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/weightloss/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111221/us_ac/10717793_childhood_obesity_at_age_8_linked_to_asthma_allergies

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Childhood Asthma

A wheezing child has over 80% chances of having asthma. Though wheezing has been considered as a hallmark feature of asthma but it may be associated with other disorders. Recurrent wheezing in infants and children should be considered a diagnostic feature of asthma, but all asthma does not wheeze. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) should be performed to confirm a diagnosis of asthma. Non-wheezing asthma is called ‘occult asthma’. Spasmodic, persistent or recurrent cough may also be a feature of asthma. In the absence of wheezing a diagnosis of asthma may be missed in children. All cases of suspected asthma should be subjected to PFT. The response to asthma therapy can also be assessed with PFT. General pulmonary fitness in-between attacks should be monitored at home or at doctor’s clinic by Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) meter. Various precipitating and aggravating factors may differ with age in children and the trend may continue during adult life.

Because of various misconceptions, asthma is highly undertreated disorder in children. Symptoms of asthma may vary with age and asthmatic children always have different clinical patterns. Type and duration of pharmacotherapy appropriate for one pattern may be inappropriate for the other, so it is important both for the physician and the parents of children to understand these patterns.

Childhood Asthma: Pattern-I

Allergic, viral or exercise induced asthma are included in pattern-I. Here the chest congestion with wheezing and breathlessness (bronchospasm) occurs in minutes or hours and rarely lasts for more than a few days. Around 50% percent of all cases of childhood asthma have pattern-I asthma. There may be 1 to 5 episodes per year. The lung functions are near normal and these cases respond well to bronchodilators along with anti-allergic treatment and rarely need steroids.

Childhood Asthma: Pattern-II

Aetiology and features of this type also resemble pattern-I but number of attacks may be 5 to 6 per year. Longer duration of treatment with bronchodilators and sometimes steroids may be required.

Childhood Asthma: Pattern-III

Undertreated children may develop this pattern where overt symptoms of asthma may be variable with impairment of PFT. These children require steroids along with bronchodilators and the course of treatment may be longer.

Childhood Asthma: Pattern-IV

Children with this pattern experience breathlessness without considerable wheezing. Variable but persistent airway obstruction and impaired PFT have been documented in children affected by pattern-IV asthma. These patients need long term treatment with bronchodilators and steroids.

Childhood Asthma: Pattern-V

Children having no symptoms of asthma during the day but having asthmatic attack at midnight or early in the morning should be labeled as the cases of pattern-V asthma. These patients may need aerosol therapy with steroids or beta agonists at night to control the cough and wheezing. Concurrent exposure to various aggravating factors may induce severe effects. Aggravation of symptoms by exercise or a specific allergen should be recognized and reported to the treating physician.