Cases of childhood asthma have been increasing drastically. Asthma is the one of the most common aliments in children. It is one of the major reasons behind hospitalization of children. A recent research has found a direct link between physical abuse and childhood asthma. Previous studies have shown a clear relationship between stress, trauma and asthma both in children as well as adults. Studies have also shown that stress can increase the probability of asthma attack in children by almost five times.

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston analyzed the data collected from a study of urban children in Puerto Rico. Analysis of data showed that any kind of physical or sexual abuse in childhood double the risk of asthma in the child. Children who had no such traumatic experiences have less chances of asthma as compared to children with traumatic past. Researchers believe that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is altered due to abuse and the trauma which further depresses the glucocorticoid response, as a result of which there is decreased suppression of airway inflammatory responses, leading to asthma.

Researchers interviewed 1200 urban children in Puerto Rico. Various parameters like stress, violence, diagnosis of asthma, and treatment the children experienced were studied under this study. Researchers found out that 20 percent children with past of sexual or physical abuse suffered from asthma also. Researchers found that this percentage was almost double as compared to children with clean past but suffering from asthma.

Analysis of data showed that 15 of the 75 children (20%) with a history of abuse had current asthma compared to 128 of 1,117 children (11.5%) without history of abuse had current asthma.

Lead researcher, Juan C. Celedón, M.D., Dr.P.H. of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said, "We already know that there is a high prevalence of asthma in Puerto Rican children, and many studies have linked stress and exposure to violence to health problems in childhood, including asthma."