HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS DRIVING INDIA'S PEDIATRIC ASTHMA EPIDEMIC

Ignoring the asthma issue will have serious consequences for education, productivity, and long-term public health, in addition to families.

- Dr. Parth Devendra Dalal

While climate change is often seen through the lens of environmental degradation and extreme weather events, its profound impact on child health, particularly respiratory health, is becoming increasingly apparent. One of the most concerning effects of climate change is the rise in pediatric asthma cases, which are fueled by environmental stressors made more severe by a warming planet.

The world is dealing with two challenges: managing the long-term environmental changes that are contributing to this health disaster and resolving the urgent health issues brought on by pediatric asthma. Critical, coordinated action is required to help ease the growing strain on families, schools, and health systems.

THE GROWING BURDEN OF PEDIATRIC ASTHMA IN INDIA

India is home to over 34 million asthma patients, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. Alarmingly, children and adolescents account for a significant proportion of these cases. The Lancet's 2019 India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative reported that childhood asthma contributes to a substantial share of disability-adjusted life years (DALYS) lost due to chronic respiratory diseases in India.

According to a study published by the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, prevalence of asthma in school-going children in India ranges from 4% to 20%, depending on geography and urban-rural divide. This wide range highlights the role of environmental factors, including pollution and climate variability, in driving asthma rates.

HOW CHILDHOOD ASTHMA BECOMES WORSE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

1. High Levels of Air Pollution