ASTHMA

Asthma was estimated to have occurred at some time during the lives of 6,910 or 23% of Aboriginal children aged 0 to 17 years. This lifetime occurrence is somewhat higher than the 20% reported for all children aged 4 to 16 years in the 1993 Western Australian Child Health Survey, although it should be noted that the 1993 survey asked whether the child currently had asthma.

Asthma prevalence among Aboriginal children declines substantially from the Perth metropolitan area (30%) through to extremely isolated areas of the state (7%). The basis of this reduction, if better understood, could offer potential prevention benefits for this burdensome condition.

CHILDREN – LIFETIME OCCURRENCE OF ASTHMA, BY LEVEL OF RELATIVE ISOLATION

Children with recurring chest infections were much more likely to have had asthma than children with no recurring chest infection (52% compared with 19%) while children who suffered allergies were also more likely to have had asthma than children who do not have allergies (45% and 21% respectively).