In the United States, about 30 million people have asthma. Nearly 9 million of them are children. While this is a high number it’s much worse in other parts of the world.

For children living in Taipei City, Tiawan it is much worse.

“Of the 21,688 seven-year-olds surveyed in the 2010 study, 4,490, or 20.7 percent, were found to be asthma-prone, said an official from the city’s Department of Health.

Blood tests showed that 77.6 percent of the children at high risk for asthma had an allergic constitution, with most of them being sensitive to dust mites and pet dander, said the health official Hsu Fan-yuan.” Complete Article

This does not come as a surprise.  Air pollution is one of the most serious problems in Taiwan, chiefly because of the heavy traffic and high concentration of industrial plants on the island. While strengthened cleanup efforts over the past few years have reduced air pollution, Pollution Standard Index (PSI) readings in Taiwan are still about three times higher than those recorded in the United States and Europe.

Also my guess is the number of children in the US with asthma is probly higher but goes undiagnosed. We have known some children over the years that their parents thought they just had allergies to dust mites or the cat. Only after a trip to the emergency room did they figure out they actually had asthma.

Be glad you live in the US.