Abstract
Asthma affects over 330 million people worldwide, with relatively higher disease burdens in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. The symptoms associated with asthma were reported to be prevalent in children from the period of 1993 to 2013, in many low- and middle-income countries, due to changes in environmental conditions, such as domestic lifestyle, and urban and industrial developments. (1) Background: Several studies have also shown that children are prone to a severe type of asthma, because of their narrow respiratory airways and susceptibility to irritation from environmental agents. This study aimed to assess the association between environmental exposure and asthma among children in King Williams Town, South Africa. (2) Methodology: This study adopted a cross-sectional design method, with an estimated sample size of 262 participants. The eligible study participants were enrolled while attending Grey hospital in King Williams Town, for asthma management. Information will be collected from eligible, stable participants, on asthma treatment, through in-person interviewing in 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire will be administered to the participants. However, as a result of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, data may be abstracted from the asthma medical record of the eligible participants. Multivariate regression will be utilized, to describe the correlation between the variables, and the odds ratio will be calculated as well. (3) Discussion and conclusion: The study will objectively identify the local environmental agents that are associated with asthma among children in King Williams Town, in order to reprioritize treatment and preventative strategies. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Johannesburg.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAsthma is a chronic lung disease affecting over 330 million people worldwide, with relatively higher disease burdens in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, andSouth America
This study aimed to assess the association between environmental exposures and asthma among children who are between the age of 3 and 12-years, in King Williams Town
The study will help to unpack the underlining values and assumptions among the children and their caregivers/parents/guardians, in order to gain an understanding of the driving forces contributing to environmental triggers and childhood asthma within the King Williams Town
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAsthma is a chronic lung disease affecting over 330 million people worldwide, with relatively higher disease burdens in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, andSouth America. Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting over 330 million people worldwide, with relatively higher disease burdens in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, and. Asthma symptoms have reportedly become more prevalent in children from the period of 1993 to 2013, in many low- and middle-income countries, due to changes in the environmental conditions, such as domestic lifestyle, and urban and industrial developments [1]. The pathophysiological changes that are associated with asthma are described as early and late responses. Exposure to an environmental agent, through inhalation, ingestion, or through skin contact, stimulate certain specialized inflammatory cells (mast cells) in the airway, which cause cross-linking of immunoglobulin. E (Ig E) on the mast cells surface, to release histamine. Cytokines, which are derived from the mast cell, will signal other airway lining cells to release their iations
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