The Asthma Trap, Essay Example

Sociological Etymologies of An Increasingly-Prevalent Childhood Condition

Through the overview of several children’s asthma accounts from the suburban areas, a trend is shown in the occurrence of asthma among black and  Hispanic children. Two minority groups with four times a greater probability of asthma development than in Caucasian children.

The inception of asthma development usually coincides with  constant exposure to dust, allergens, and varying air temperatures. The case study also notes there is a genetic predisposing factors to the development of asthma. However, in the absence of genetic culprits, other environmental and sociological factors are considered and have been found to have a profound effect on asthma development. Despite the increasing efficacy of pharmaceutical remedies for asthma, the prevalence amongst children has never been higher.

Leading pediatricians and pulmonologists have claimed asthma is a preventable and treatable illness.  Together with the burgeoning pharmacological breakthroughs, the number of asthma hospitalizations and diagnoses increases per annum. Some doctors and scientists believe the increased ozone levels and higher air pollution factor into this trend of the rising rate of asthma diagnoses. There is a rise in the usage of pesticides and chemical cleaning agents along with more effective insulation in different housing situations are suspected as well.

Despite the progress of the pharmaceutical industries, the socioeconomic class structures are at the root of why advancements have not brought the number of asthma-affected children down. Poor families typically have little or no health insurance, making the new pharmaceutical breakthroughs unattainable due to the high costs that exist until the patent term is over and a generic form of the medication is available at a much cheaper price.  When new asthma medications first enter the market, the original pharmaceutical owns a 7-year patent; during the 7 years, the industry has a monopoly on the product, meaning it can heighten the price to whatever it wants, due to the fact that there is no competition in the market. Once the patent runs out, other pharmaceutical industries can make the medication under a generic name and the price for these medications plummets.

In addition to not having access to the top pharmaceuticals as they first premiere on the market, poor families are often unable to keep a regular supply of asthma regulators that are less expensive but require continuous refills. These medications are known as inhalers, nebulizers, and steroids – the most common remedies for the management of asthma.

Besides black and Hispanic ethnicities having a predilection for the development of asthma, the big-city demographic also shows a higher tendency toward asthma. This is fairly intuitive since the big cities have higher pollution and smog, which are triggers for asthma exacerbation.

The upshot of the sociological aspects of asthma is the disadvantages of ethnic minorities living in the big cities. Children are at a higher risk due to their increased lung capacity for airbreathing a higher ratio of air per pound of body mass. New laws and new forms of aid must be delivered to those in the poorer income brackets. With all of the advances in the treatment of asthma being perfected in laboratories across the world, the rate of asthma development should be decreasing instead of increasing annually.