The rate of Asthma cases in the US has been increasing in the past decades until last year's statisctics. According to the latest study on childhood Asthma, in most of its common demographic, the acceleration childhood asthma rates are showing signs of decrease.
Kids under the age of 18 who suffer from asthma have been increasing consistently and reached a record-breaking 9.7% increase in 2009. Ever since that record high, the stats maintained itself until 2013 when it dropped from 9.3% at 2012 rate to 8.3% at 2013.
The researchers, headed by Dr Lara Akinbami from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, also observed that the slowing down of the childhood asthma's growth rate is not only exclusive to the US but also in other parts of the world. "International data on asthma prevalence over time shows that trends appear to be leveling off in many countries," says Akinbami.
Even with the premise of a beginning in the decline of childhood asthma cases in the US, the researchers does not endorse the idea and prefers to wait for more data to support the prediction.
The researchers also pointed out that only children who were not considered part of the low-inccome community were part of the statistics that lowered the increase in the numbers. Puerto Rican children maintained their rate of asthma case increase while kids aged 10-17 and part of poor families showed an increase in the prevalence of asthma cases.
Researchers believe that it is the living conditions of the poor children that contributes greatly to the prevalence of asthma in their communities. Factors like tobacco exposure, poor housing, and pest exposure increase the chance for a child to contract asthma.
Dr Todd Mar of Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin notes that the data means that the newest and more aggressive types of asthma treatments are working. Sadly, these asthma treatments are not available for everyone who cannot afford them.
The world has never seen this type of change in the ever growing behavior of asthma cases and Mahr believes that "progress is occurring in decreasing the asthma epidemic."