The decrease in the number of pediatric bronchial asthma patients in Kobe City due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection in the spring of 2020 was reported by Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Professor Hirohiro Nozu, and Ishida of the Kobe Children's Early Emergency Center. It was found by the analysis of Akito Center Director and others.It seems that the decline in social activities under the state of emergency and the decline in sulfur dioxide concentration in the environment had an effect.
According to Kobe University, the research group surveyed 2011 patients under the age of 2020 who visited the Kobe Children's Primary Emergency Center from 16 to 7,476 and were diagnosed with bronchial asthma.
As a result, the number of patients with bronchial asthma had a clear peak in spring and autumn until 2019, but in 2020 there was no peak in the spring when the state of emergency was announced, and the state of emergency was lifted. The peak was coming in the fall.
The research group analyzed patient data up to 2019 and found that the number of patients with asthma is associated with an increase in mean temperature and is proportional to an increase in atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels in children under 5 years of age. I understood. Under the state of emergency in the spring of 2020, the decline in social activities clearly reduced the amount of air pollutants in Kobe City, and there was also a decrease in human interaction.The research group suspects that this effect may have reduced the number of patients with bronchial asthma.
Bronchial asthma has been said to increase on cold days and before and after typhoons, but this study revealed that it is more likely to occur on hot days in spring and autumn and on days when sulfur dioxide levels increase.Refraining from going out for long periods of time on hot spring and autumn days and staying away from high-emission areas may be a precautionary measure.
