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Samenvatting

Bijna één op de drie peuters heeft symptomen van astma, te weten piepen op de borst, benauwdheid of kortademigheid. Hieronder valt ook het gebruik van inhalatiecorticosteroïden. Bij de meeste kinderen gaan de klachten binnen een tot twee jaar over. Ongeveer 5% van de kinderen blijft klachten houden en heeft die nog op 12-jarige leeftijd. Meer jongens dan meisjes hebben astmasymptomen en kinderen van ouders met astma of allergie hebben een sterk verhoogd risico. Kinderen met astmasymptomen hebben vaak ook een allergie, eczeem of neusklachten. Dit blijkt uit het zogenoemde PIAMA-onderzoek, waarin kinderen zijn gevolgd vanaf hun geboorte tot de leeftijd van 12 jaar. PIAMA is een lopend onderzoek dat wordt uitgevoerd door het RIVM, de Universiteit van Utrecht, het UMC Groningen, het Erasmus MC in Rotterdam en Sanquin Research in Amsterdam. Psychisch even gezond. Desondanks zijn kinderen met astmasymptomen psychisch even gezond als kinderen zonder astmasymptomen. Zij zijn ook even tevreden over hun vriendschappen, hun uiterlijk, hun prestaties op school en bij gym en hun vrijetijdsbesteding. Op school presteren zij net zo goed als andere kinderen. Bovendien zijn ze even vaak lid van een sportclub, hoewel 30% van de kinderen met astmasymptomen medicijnen gebruikt bij het sporten.

Abstract

Almost one in every three toddlers has asthma symptoms. They wheeze or they have shortness of breath or chest tightness or they use inhaled corticosteroids for these complaints. Most children grow out of their symptoms within one or two years. However, in about five percent of all children, the symptoms persist and they still have asthma symptoms at the age of 12. More boys than girls have asthma symptoms and if parents have asthma or allergies, their children have a substantially increased risk. Children with asthma symptoms are more likely to have allergies, eczema or rhinitis as well. These observations were made in the PIAMA study, that followed children from birth until the age of 12. The study is still ongoing and is carried out by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in co-operation with the University of Utrecht, the University Medical Centre in Groningen, the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and Sanquin Research in Amsterdam.
Asthma symptoms are associated with poorer health. Children with asthma symptoms, and especially children who have four or more episodes of wheezing or shortness of breath per year, are in poorer health than other children. They more often stay home because of illness and visit their general practitioner more frequently. Parents worry more about their child's health, they more often have to get up at night for the child, and they more often report pain and discomfort in their child. Also, children with asthma symptoms are less satisfied themselves with their health than other children and more often perceive their health as 'moderate'.
Mental health equally good. Nevertheless, children with asthma symptoms are mentally as healthy as other children. Also, they are equally satisfied with their friendships, their looks, their achievements in school and in physical education, and about their leisure time activities. Their school marks are as good as those of other children. Moreover, similar percentages of them are member of a sports club, although 30% of the children with asthma symptoms use asthma medication when engaging in sports.

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