Boys were more likely than girls to first develop asthma or wheezing illness in infancy but, from age five years, new cases occurred equally in boys and girls.
The report also showed that among kindergarten-aged children, living in remote areas and having food or other allergies were risk factors for the onset of asthma-like symptoms.
Children who had asthma or wheeze in their fifth year were more likely than other children to be hospitalised, to attend an emergency department, and to visit a general practitioner more frequently over the next two years, and were also more likely to be overweight or obese two years later.
Parents of children with wheeze or asthma were more likely to report that their child had poorer health or disturbed sleeping patterns.
Source-Medindia
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