It’s estimated that one in ten children in the UK suffer from asthma - that’s over 1.1 million children. The prevalence has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years, although the rate of increase seems to be levelling off.

The good news is that with modern management and medication, most children should be able to live full and active lives and their symptoms should be kept under control.

Why is asthma on the increase?

There are several theories. The hygiene hypothesis is probably the most convincing. We are living as smaller family units in better insulated, cleaner homes and children today are less likely to be exposed to germs in the environment. They do not have the same opportunity as children did 40 or 50 years ago to build up their immune systems by fighting infections. A strong immune system could offer protection against a number of things including the allergens that trigger asthma.

We’re also better at picking up the signs and symptoms of asthma today and that could account for more children being diagnosed with asthma and seeking treatment.

How do you recognise asthma?

Asthma is when the airways within the lungs become narrowed. This often happens in response to a trigger - most commonly colds, house dust mites, pets (especially cats and dogs) and pollen but there are many more. Symptoms include wheezing, troublesome coughing, breathlessness and tightness in the chest. Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some children may experience them occasionally, while a few may experience these symptoms all the time.

Making a diagnosis is not always straightforward. At least one in seven young children will have wheezing episodes in the first five years of life, only around half will actually have asthma. There are several other causes of wheezy illnesses that account for the rest, most commonly in response to a viral infection.

Who’s most at risk?

Those with a family history of asthma, hay fever or sometimes eczema are more likely to have asthma.

What’s the best treatment?

For most children, asthma is a mild condition that can be controlled by inhaled medication at home. Continuity and stability of treatment is important. Medication aims to protect the lungs and hopefully to prevent any damage that could cause problems in later life.

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