Last fall investigators began to follow 400 children aged 6 to 10 with physician-diagnosed asthma who live within 6 miles of an air quality monitoring station. The five-year study could have regulatory implications if it shows current standards do not sufficiently protect the public, especially children. A tandem study is underway among Puerto Ricans in New York. While some may have a propensity to develop asthma a child or adult will only begin to show symptoms if a trigger is present. If his new study can identify the marker, it means that when babies or adults arrive wheezing, a doctor's office can do a simple test and begin treating for asthma right away.
Early diagnosis means earlier targeted treatment, key to remission.
Avila expects to finish collecting data from 200 subjects in the field early this year, when the laboratory and office phase of the study will begin. We are looking for situations where education really helps. When the mapping finds clusters of asthma it can also pinpoint the schools kids are likely to attend, and direct special asthma education there to faculty, students and parents.