Childhood Asthma vs. Adult-Onset Asthma

It’s a common belief that asthma is primarily a disease among children. But, did you know that adults suffer from asthma too? Read more about adult onset asthma and how it’s different from asthma in children.

Fast facts about asthma

• The prevalence of asthma is higher in children. Over 6% children and 2% adults in India have asthma. (Source: Global Asthma Report)
• Prevalence of asthma in male children is higher than in female. However, in adults, more women are diagnosed than men. (Source: European Respiratory Review)
• Asthma is marked by the inflammation and irritation in the lungs.
• Asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing and breathlessness.
• Most of the symptoms between asthma in kids and adult onset asthma are similar. However, the severity and the asthma causes may differ.
• The risk of developing asthma increases by 50% in obese adults. (Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)

What’s adult-onset asthma?

Adult or late-onset asthma is when your asthma symptoms show up for the first time after enteringadulthood. In most cases, adult onset asthma is caused due to allergies. A particular allergen or irritant may trigger an immune reaction among people who are sensitive towards them.

How is childhood asthma different from adult-onset asthma?

• Triggers: Children tend to have asthma episodes which are triggered by cold, upper respiratory tract infections or allergies. However, in adults, the irritants inhaled at workplace may be responsible. This is also known as occupational asthma. Another activity associated to the risk of developing asthma in adults is smoking. In adults, asthma is non-atopic and is associated with a sharper decline in the lung function. Meanwhile, asthma in children is widely marked by atopic diseases like eczema or other conditions like allergic rhinitis.
• Frequency: Asthma symptoms in kids are often irregular episodes. Moreover, with the right treatment, children can overcome asthma. (Source: WHO) In adults, especially the ones who develop asthma at adulthood, the symptoms are often persistent and ongoing. (Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation in America) Many adults deal with asthma for life. 

Risk factors for adult-onset asthma:

• Occupational exposure: 15-20% of cases among adults happen due to exposure to chemical fumes or irritants at workplace. (Source: NCBI)
• Psychological factors: There are many factors under this head collectively responsible for asthma in adults. Depressive episodes, anxiety attacks or leading a stressful life are the most common ones.
• Smoking and alcohol: Smoking increases stress and has an inflammatory effect on lungs. It increases the severity of asthma symptoms, irrespective of whether you’re engaged in passive or active smoking. Alcohol has components which may trigger your asthma attack. In fact, wine-induced asthma is a type of asthma among adults, often diagnosed in women. 

Risk factors in childhood asthma:

• Genetics: If you or your partner is suffering from asthma disease, chances are that your children will develop it too. Interestingly, maternal history of asthma is more strongly associated to development of asthma in children. (Source: NCBI)
• Maternal factors: If the mother smokes tobacco during pregnancy, there’s an increased risk of development of asthma among the children. Your diet during the pregnancy also poses as a risk factor. Diets rich in zinc, vitamin E and fatty acids can save your child from the risk of developing asthma.
• Natal factors: Low birth weight of your child or caesarean section of delivery is known to increase the risk of developing asthma. 
• Antibiotics: Exposure to at least one course of antibiotics in the first year of life seems to be a risk factor for the development of asthma in children. (NCBI study: “Does antibiotics exposure during infancy lead to development of asthma.”)