After conducting a prevalence survey on 2,428 students at Anshim School, high-risk children and Anshim School were provided with dedicated moisturizers and emergency kits.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has designated safe schools and provides moisturizers to help children suffering from allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma in the area live healthily.
Recently, due to the westernization of living environments, allergic diseases among children are rapidly increasing. If allergic diseases are not properly managed during childhood or adolescence, they can progress to severe conditions such as adult atopy, and childhood asthma can lead to emergencies such as attacks, making management very important.
Earlier, in April, the district designated 25 atopy and asthma safe schools targeting elementary schools, daycare centers, and kindergartens in the area, and surveyed the prevalence of atopy, asthma, rhinitis, and other conditions among 2,428 children and students attending these safe schools through questionnaires.
The prevalence survey results showed symptoms in the order of allergic rhinitis (10.7%), atopic dermatitis (7.9%), food allergies (6.1%), asthma (0.9%), and anaphylaxis (0.2%) among all respondents.
In particular, allergic rhinitis prevalence was highest across all groups regardless of age.
Through this survey, the district plans to provide 517 atopic dermatitis-specific moisturizers by the end of the year to 191 children classified as high-risk and to the 25 safe schools.
This year, newly designated safe schools will also receive asthma attack emergency kits, including inhaler aids and emergency response manuals.
Additionally, the district supports preventive education at safe schools and creates a healthy growth environment for children through certification based on indoor environment surveys. For vulnerable groups burdened by treatment costs, an annual medical expense support program of up to 300,000 KRW is also implemented.
Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “To prevent and manage representative diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma in infants and elementary school students, we are establishing emergency systems within schools and promoting various projects such as providing moisturizers and medical expense support for vulnerable groups.” He added, “We will actively pay attention and provide support so that children can grow up healthily.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
