Asthma is increasing. Ironically, industrialisation, energy-efficient houses, and eradication of many childhood illnesses, such as measles and mumps, may be partly to blame. For reasons unknown, asthma isn't much of a problem in pre-industrial societies. But when development moves in, asthma follows. According to some experts, we are spending more and more time sealed in energy-efficient houses.
Indoor air is ripe with allergens, such as dust mites or pet hair.
If children spend much of their time in front of the TV or computer, they spend less time outside in the fresh air. All this seems to have translated to an increase in asthma. The ever-ready immune system , too, which used to marshal its defences against chicken pox and rubella, now has little more to do than combat an onslaught of dust mites, the microscopic pests whose presence is related to asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition, and there is no known cure. However, asthma can be successfully managed with medicines, and by reducing the exposure to the trigger for the asthma when possible.