An Affliction of Wealth?
Affluent countries have higher rates of allergy-triggered asthma

(HealthDay News) -- It's been said that money can't buy happiness. Apparently, it can't guarantee good health, either.

People who live in more affluent, developed countries are more likely to have asthma than those who live in poorer, less developed nations, according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine .

"The link between atopic sensitization and asthma symptoms in children differs strongly between populations and increases with economic development," the study authors wrote.

Of the 20 million Americans who have asthma, around half of them have what's known as allergic asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. That means everyday exposures to things such as dust mites, mold and pollen can trigger symptoms in someone with allergic asthma. Common symptoms include wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.

One theory as to why some people respond to what most people's bodies regard as harmless is called the hygiene hypothesis. The idea behind the theory is that, as people live in more sterile environments and take antibiotics at the first sign of a bacterial infection, the immune system doesn't have a chance to learn which invaders are truly harmful and which potential threats it can let pass, such as pollen.

The hygiene hypothesis is still considered controversial, but some research has supported the theory.

"The gist of this study is that, in more affluent countries, asthma seems more related to allergy than to other triggers," Dr. Alan Khadavi, a pediatric asthma specialist at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City , told HealthDay . "This study seems to support the hygiene hypothesis, because normal gut flora can be altered in affluent countries with the use of antibiotics and living very cleanly."

For the study, researchers gathered data on 55,000 children between the ages of 8 and 12. The children came from 22 countries in areas as diverse as urban Europe and rural Africa .

Children with allergies from poorer countries were 2.2 times more likely to have asthma than their non-allergic peers. But, kids with allergies from more affluent countries had a fourfold higher risk of developing asthma than children without allergies.

"Asthma is a complex disease caused by many different things, and it can present with many different symptoms," Dr. Sandra Braganza, a pediatric asthma specialist at Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City , told HealthDay . "It's likely that the environment being different -- both indoors and outdoors -- is responsible for the differences in the study."

If it's been determined that allergies trigger a child's asthma, the Nemours Foundation recommends taking steps to control dust mites, mold and pollen in the home.

• To control dust mites, dust and vacuum at least weekly and wash bedding in hot water.
• To control mold, don't use humidifiers in the home and, if possible, use air conditioning to keep humidity levels down.
• To keep pollen out of the home, use air conditioning.

On the Web

To learn more about controlling asthma symptoms by visiting the Web site of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

SOURCES: HealthDay News ; Alan Khadavi, M.D., pediatric asthma specialist, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City; Sandra Braganza, M.D., pediatric asthma specialist and assistant professor of pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, New York City; September 2007, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine ; Nemours Foundation (www.kidshealth.org)
Author: Serena Gordon
Publication Date: Sept. 30, 2008
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