Smoking, C-section births causing surge in child asthma cases: Experts

Ranchi: Increased direct and indirect exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy, coupled with a growing preference for caesarean deliveries, is contributing to a surge in asthma cases among children in the state, paediatricians said on Monday.Doctors said expectant women who smoke or receive second-hand exposure at home or workplaces put their children at heightened risk of developing respiratory ailments later in life."Although asthma is genetic, there are other environmental factors that have led to an increase in cases, especially among children. Maternal smoking — direct or indirect — is one such key factor. If an expectant woman carries asthma genes, smoke exposure during pregnancy adversely impacts the developing lungs of the foetus, making the child genetically and biologically more vulnerable to asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases," Dr Partha Kumar Choudhary, professor at paediatrics department of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), said.He further said that the increased preference for C-section deliveries is also leading to growing cases of asthma in children. "In normal delivery, the infant is exposed to a lot of allergens, and that early exposure helps them become resistant against allergens later in life. However, C-section deliveries are done in sterilised conditions, making children susceptible to developing asthma," Choudhary added.On average, around 20% of the children visiting the RIMS paediatrics department come with asthmatic conditions, he said.Dr Tejveer Singh, consultant and head of respiratory, sleep medicine and interventional pulmonology department at Bhagwan Mahavir Manipal Hospitals, said that multiple factors can lead to asthma in children. "The state is rapidly urbanising, giving rise to pollution, which is also increasing the risk of asthma. In mining-dominated districts, people are exposed to dust. In rural areas, people are still dependent on firewood for cooking. All these factors also cause asthma in infants," Singh added.Expressing concern over low detection of asthma cases in the state, he said, "Due to various misconceptions and stigma, asthma is not detected at the right time. Parents tend to overlook early symptoms, and even after detection, they show reluctance in using inhalers due to social stigma. About 3-4 out of every 10 children with respiratory ailments are diagnosed with asthma in the state," Singh said.Dr Chandan Kumar Suman, consultant paediatrician at Ankur Child Hospital, said that in recent times, there has been an increase in asthma cases among children in Ranchi due to both genetic and environmental factors. "The concern is that people are reluctant to accept that they have asthma and consider using an inhaler a taboo. They often consult with quacks, and that can prove fatal," Suman said.
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