Brabin B J, Kelly Y
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK.
Ann Trop Paediatr. 1998 Sep;18 Suppl:S33-9. doi: 10.1080/02724936.1998.11747978.
There is evidence that until quite recently asthma was infrequent in tropical developing countries. Estimates of the current and lifetime prevalence of wheeze and asthma in children in tropical countries in the 1990s suggest that the problem is increasing. There is also evidence that urbanization in tropical areas is associated with a higher prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Possible contributors to this changing pattern of asthma are discussed. These probably relate to differential exposure to house dust mite and infectious agents in infancy. There is little research on this increasing problem but it is needed in order to find ways to arrest increases in asthma.
有证据表明，直到最近，哮喘在热带发展中国家仍不常见。20世纪90年代对热带国家儿童当前和终生喘息及哮喘患病率的估计表明，这一问题正在加剧。也有证据表明，热带地区的城市化与运动诱发性支气管痉挛的较高患病率有关。本文讨论了导致哮喘这种变化模式的可能因素。这些因素可能与婴儿期接触屋尘螨和感染源的差异有关。关于这一日益严重的问题的研究很少，但为了找到阻止哮喘增加的方法，这是必要的。
