New Study Reveals Why Some Children Still Suffer Asthma Attacks Despite Treatment

New Delhi: A new study has found that some children with asthma continue to have serious breathing problems even when they are taking medicine meant to help. This is because other hidden types of inflammation may also be causing asthma attacks.

The study, published in JAMA Paediatrics, looked at a type of asthma called eosinophilic asthma. This kind happens when a certain kind of white blood cell, called an eosinophil, builds up in the lungs and airways. These cells are supposed to fight infection, but in asthma, they cause swelling and make it hard to breathe.

This kind of asthma is usually treated with medicines that stop something called type 2 (T2) inflammation. These treatments lower eosinophil levels and try to prevent asthma flare-ups. One such medicine is called mepolizumab.

But the study showed that some children still had asthma attacks even while taking this medicine. This means that other causes may also be involved.

Researchers, led by Dr. Rajesh Kumar from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, studied nasal samples from children during 176 asthma-related illnesses. They found three other types of inflammation that may be causing flare-ups:

Epithelial inflammation – Found even in children taking asthma medicine, whether they had a virus or not.

Macrophage inflammation – Linked to viral infections.

Mucus and cell stress – Seen in both children taking medicine and those not taking it.

Dr. Kumar explained that children who still had flare-ups while on the medicine didn’t have as much allergic inflammation, but they still had other types that caused trouble.

This study shows that asthma in children is more complicated than just one kind of inflammation. It also shows that children may need different treatments based on what kind of inflammation they have. In the future, doctors may be able to give each child the exact care they need to help them breathe better and live healthier lives.