Chronic respiratory diseases are the most common non-infectious diseases in children.
Already today, every year, over 4.2 million people die from chronic respiratory diseases. This problem is still growing and if we do not take appropriate action to stop this epidemic, it will lead to a significant deterioration of the health condition of the society, in line with the findings of the Council of the European Union.
Respiratory disease is one of the most important health threats for children. Infections of the respiratory system in children are the most common reason for doctor visits and sick leave. It results, among others from the easy spread of respiratory tract infections, as well as respiratory defense mechanisms that were not yet developed in this age.
The big problem is allergies, common among children. According to the research of prof. Bolesław Samoliński from the Warsaw Medical University suffers from allergy suffered by 14 million Poles.
Allergies in a child can cause recurrent infections. Children with allergies have frequent infections of the upper respiratory tract (sinusitis, rhinitis, otitis media). It is estimated that about 15% of children suffer from recurrent infections, most often they are respiratory infections (rhinitis, sinusitis, middle ear, throat).
Allergy sufferers are often treated for a cold or a cold, unaware of the true cause of their ailments. Allergy untreated or treated incorrectly usually leads to the development of bronchial asthma. In Poland there is a huge problem related to the underdiagnosis of asthma, which means that many patients are not aware of their illness, and the symptoms appearing, such as coughing or dyspnea, are treated as cold symptoms or worsening of allergies. In total, the percentage of asthmatics with unrecognized disease is estimated at 67%, whereas among children suffering from asthma 78% do not know about their disease. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children and people up to 30 years of age – in this group it is the most serious health problem even in combination with cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. It is estimated that every 10th child suffers from asthma in developed countries.
In many cases, children are treated unnecessarily and unsuccessfully with antibiotics instead of the anti-inflammatory drugs used in asthma. Every year in our country, 1.5 thousand die from asthma. people – on average every 6 hours there is one death.
90% of deaths from asthma are avoidable thanks to the extensive education of all communities, improving healthcare and reducing the public’s risk factors of developing these diseases.
The Council of the European Union drew attention to the problem of the widespread prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in children, which was reflected in the draft Council Conclusions p. “Prevention, early detection and treatment of chronic respiratory diseases in children”:
“THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION UNDERLINES that asthma and allergic rhinitis are the most common chronic respiratory diseases in children and that asthma is the most common cause of admissions to the emergency room and hospitalization in children.”