Experts Puzzled by Imperial County Asthma Statistics

Children with severe asthma in Imperial County are three times more likely to need a visit to the emergency department or be hospitalized, compared with other regions in the state, according to data from the state Department of Public Health. Experts say they are unable to pinpoint the cause of the high rates of ED visits and hospitalizations.

• "Imperial County Leads State in Treatment of Children With Asthma" (Gorman, Los Angeles Times, 7/16).