Obama administration task force announces coordinated action plan to address … – Montreal Gazette

Obama administration task force announces coordinated action plan to address
Montreal Gazette
US Department of Health & Human Services: WHAT: Obama administration officials will join community groups to announce the coordinated action plan to address asthma disparities. Asthma rates among African American children are currently at 16 percent,

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Asthma risk increased by common antibiotic: Canadian research – Montreal Gazette


National Post

Asthma risk increased by common antibiotic: Canadian research
Montreal Gazette
VANCOUVER — A widely used antibiotic can increase the risk and severity of asthma, according to groundbreaking Canadian research that could help explain why millions of children now need to use puffers. It also points to the dangers of mucking with
Exposure to antibiotics linked to severity of allergic asthma: UBC researchEurekAlert (press release)

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New York Times correspondent Anthony Shadid dies of apparent asthma attack … – Global Montreal


Fox News

New York Times correspondent Anthony Shadid dies of apparent asthma attack
Global Montreal
16, 2012, apparently of an asthma attack, while on assignment for the New York Times in Syria, the paper said. He was 43. (AP Photo/The Washington Post, Julia Ewan) MANDATORY CREDIT: THE WASHINGTON POST, JULIA EWAN NEW YORK, NY – New York Times
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New York Times correspondent Shadid dies in SyriaWECT-TV6

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Montreal Children’s Hospital asthma clinic to reduce services after move to MUHC – Montreal Gazette

Montreal Children's Hospital asthma clinic to reduce services after move to MUHC
Montreal Gazette
By Aaron Derfel, GAZETTE health reporter December 15, 2011 A boy receives treatment for asthma complications in the pediatric intensive care ward of Montreal Children's Hospital. MONTREAL – The Montreal Children's Hospital plans to cut back some of its

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Incurable, little-known lung disease a major health issue: Study – Montreal Gazette


CTV.ca

Incurable, little-known lung disease a major health issue: Study
Montreal Gazette
So is occupational exposure to dusts or fumes, a history of respiratory tract infections in childhood, exposure to second-hand smoke and — many are beginning to believe — asthma, especially poorly controlled asthma. "We know from our study that the
COPD Risk Outpaces Host of Other DiseasesMedPage Today
Study puts urgent focus on disease that will hit 1 in 4 CanadiansCTV.ca (blog)
Study: 1 in 4 People Likely to Develop COPDWebMD
Global Montreal
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1 in 4 Montreal, Quebec Kids Has Lung Illness Says Reports

The Montreal Gazzete is reporting that one in four Montreal children suffering from lung disease because of poor living conditions. According to the report Quebec should perhaps invest in home construction as well as new hospitals, health officials said Thursday.

A public health study blames excessive humidity and mould for severe health threats to children that can last a lifetime.

Dr. Richard Lessard, director of public health for Montreal, said he was surprised by the scope of his department’s report showing a direct link between children’s environment and their health said the the Montreal Gazzete.

Qutoes in the the Montreal Gazzete state that “Action has to be taken by people other than health care professionals,” Lessard said.

Water infiltration into walls, ceilings and basements because of Montreal’s flat roof construction and subsequent lack of regular maintenance are creating serious health problems in children and their parents, and the health department should not have to pay for that, Lessard said.

About a third of Montreal children age 6 months to 12 years live in homes with excessive humidity and mould – the top risk factor for respiratory illness, said department physician and principal investigator, Louis Jacques.

Researchers say it is responsible for 26 per cent of respiratory infections, 17 per cent of asthma and 14 per cent of allergic rhinitis in winter, meaning coughing, congestion or nasal secretions.

The health of at least 10,000 children could be dramatically improved by getting rid of excess moisture in homes, Jacques said.

Researchers identified two other major risk factors that could be modified to improve children’s health: exposure to tobacco smoke, and lack of breastfeeding.

Exposure to smoke accounted for 10 per cent of asthma cases, seven per cent of respiratory infections and six per cent of colds.

Lack of breastfeeding factored in 11 per cent of asthma.

No surprise, the study found that inner-city children living in rental apartments suffer more from asthma, allergies and colds.

Neighbourhoods with higher rates of rental units and illness include Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, and the east end borough of Pointe-aux-Trembles-Montréal-Est.

Study data collected in 2006 from 8,000 parents resulted in estimates that 63,000 of Montreal’s 235,000 children – about one in four – suffer from one or more of three respiratory illnesses most common in childhood, Jacques said.

Montreal’s infection rates are on par, if slightly higher, than those of other cities but what’s really troubling are the great differences between neighbourhoods, Jacques said, “which are caused by things that could be prevented.”

Health officials fear that the statistics underestimate the problem.

The figures break down as follows, with some children developing more than one illness:

An estimated 12 per cent or 30,000 children age six months to 12 years had suffered from asthma, another 30,000 had allergic rhinitis in winter, while about 15,000 children contracted sinusitis or otitis plus bronchitis or pneumonia.

About 20 per cent of chil-dren who were sick with colds also had asthma.

An estimated 2,000 children a year end up in emergency rooms with chronic respiratory ailments.

Among its recommendations, the health department urged municipalities to improve affordable, clean housing and strictly apply regulations on housing maintenance and sanitation.

Housing activists welcomed the study and demanded city officials act promptly against slum landlords who fail to maintain their buildings.