Wheezing among children on the rise

Wheezing among five to eight-year-olds, which is commonly a symptom of asthma or allergy, increased by more than 50 per cent in seven years, according to latest figures from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISACC).

Fourteen per cent of this age group were found to be suffering from the condition when the study was carried out between 2001 and 2002. The figure was nine per cent seven years earlier.

Compared to another study carried out in Malta in 1985, the prevalence of wheezing among five to eight-year olds has practically trebled, respiratory specialist Stephen Montfort said.

He said the results of the full ISACC study, which is carried out in about 90 countries, had not yet been released but preliminary results gave cause for concern.

The study also shows that the prevalence of wheezing among 13 to 14-year-olds has remained stable at 16 per cent. Though this is consoling, Malta's rate of wheezing in this age group is still very high. In the ISACC study of 1995 - 1996 Malta placed third behind the UK and Ireland.

A debate on allergies was raised this week in The Guardian, which reported that scientists believe half of all Europeans could be suffering from some sort of allergy by 2015 if the escalating epidemic goes unchecked. In some cases allergies can be fatal and in others they will seriously compromise the quality of life.

These dire predictions come as the biggest-ever research project into the causes of allergy and asthma is about to be launched in Europe.

Scientists from many countries will coordinate their efforts in an attempt to find out why rates are soaring.

Asked if Malta would be taking part in this study, Dr Montfort said the country was not involved in this intervention study, which normally required a lot of funding.