Asthma in young kids decreases: StatsCan

Asthma cases amongchildren between the ages of twoand seven have dropped to their lowest level in more than a decade, according to Statistics Canada.

Figures released Wednesday indicate the percentage of children in this age group who were diagnosed with asthmadroppedto 10 per cent in 2009, from13 per cent in 2001.

Previous studies reported regional variations in the prevalence of childhood asthma, with B.C. and the Prairie provinces having lower rates than other regions.

However, the pattern has shifted significantlysince 2001, the percentage of children with asthma between the ages of two and seven fell in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario but remained relatively stable in B.C. and the Prairies.

As of 2009, there were no significant regional differences in the prevalence of asthma.

The overall findings don't surprise Dr. Allan Becker, a pediatric allergist and head of the section of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in the department of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba.

"There are two things that I think are probably going on: one is that we may actually be seeing a real plateau in asthma prevalence, and that's entirely possible; and secondly that there is that diagnostic perception now that not all that wheezes is asthma," he said..

"That's an aphorism that we've heard from our professors many, many, many years ago, mostly speaking about adults. But now that's equally true in terms of children."

According to Statistics Canada, one factor that might have contributed to the decrease in asthma in young children is reduced exposure to cigarette smoke.

"Children of parents who smoke have a much higher frequency of colds, of respiratory infections, and among those children, the viral illnesses are the major causes of these wheezing illnesses," Becker said.

"And that would suggest, then, a diagnosis of asthma. So, with fewer especially young parents smoking, it really does make a difference in the likelihood that these children will have wheezy episodes with their colds."

Becker noted that greater efforts are being made to avoid triggers and use medications appropriately.

But, he said, there's still severe morbidity of children ending up in emergency rooms, and it's unacceptable that there are about 300 deaths a year in Canada from asthma.

"There's a long way to go, but I believe we're on the right path in understanding asthma better and in helping children and their families manage asthma better."

Meanwhile,cases of upper-respiratory infections among children two or three years oldhave remained constant or declined in most regions, although they have risen significantly in Quebec.

The percentage with upper-respiratory infections had dropped to 23 per cent, from 26 per cent in 1995. In Quebec, the percentage rose to 39 per cent from 28 per cent over the same time period.

In addition, ear infections in young children have dropped off throughout the country, to 50 per cent from 67 per cent.