Asthma Cases Increase in Sonoma County
Nearly 20% of school-aged children in Sonoma County have asthma, but 7% of cases are undiagnosed, according to a study released Tuesday, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. In 2001, 11.6% of Sonoma County children had asthma.
The 2005 pilot study surveyed families in the Roseland School District. Findings were consistent with statewide data from 2001-2003 that found 19.9% of seventh-, ninth- and 11th graders said they had been diagnosed with asthma.
Barbara Young, assistant director of the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition, said the problem likely is worse in areas where tobacco smoke, mold, dust mites and other exposures that affect asthma are more prevalent.
According to the 2001-2003 data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, Solano County had the highest asthma rate among children at 27%, while Monterey County has the lowest rate at 15.3%. The state average is 18.4%.
Asthma is the No. 1 cause of hospitalization for children in California, according to the American Lung Association (Hillenmeyer, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 5/3).