ER visits for children with allergy-related asthma could increase due to climate change
Emergency room visits for children with allergy-related asthma could increase by 10% in the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast combined. This is due to gas emission levels which cause longer oak pollen seasons.
The high levels of gas emissions are expected to extend the oak pollen season with a direct impact on children suffering form allergy-related asthma. A new research published in GeoHealth focused on the effects of climate change on oak pollen seasons and the subsequent impact it will have on children with allergy-related asthma and found that by 2090, the increase in pollen could result in a 10 percent increase in hospital ER visits.
“Specifically, we found that future meteorological conditions could lengthen the oak pollen season in the U.S., which could lead to allergic asthma exacerbation and cause more people to seek treatment in emergency rooms,” said Susan Anenberg, leader of the study.
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Scientists warn that climate change will impose new challenges when talking about public health and it will also come with additional burdens on healthcare systems. In this particular case, climate change could increase U.S. allergic disease incidence with allergies already causing economic damages. According to the new study’s data, the increase of ER visits will add a $10.4 million to the baseline value of $346.2 million.
Mitigating climate change would have benefits in terms of avoided pollen-related health impacts, researchers say.
The new research is just one in the growing field of research on the health impacts of climate change and the economic burdens they will impose.
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