The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Oct 2008
Multicenter StudyA community-based study of tobacco smoke exposure among inner-city children with asthma in Chicago.
Little is known about the level of tobacco exposure and the factors that influence exposure in children with persistent asthma. ⋯ Tobacco smoke exposure was high in this urban sample of asthmatic children. Caregiver smoking was strongly associated with child exposure and also was associated with lower socioeconomic status, non-Hispanic ethnicity, and depression symptoms.
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Asthma exacerbations are common, and the major morbidity, mortality, and health care costs associated with asthma are related to exacerbations. The majority are related to viral infection, and although progress has been made in identifying the mechanisms of virus-induced asthma exacerbations, there is still much to be learned. ⋯ Exacerbations are characterized by airway inflammation, which can differ in type depending on whether it is primarily infective or allergic in origin. An increased understanding of the inflammatory pathways might lead to identification of targets for the development of novel prevention or treatment strategies.