# Childhood Asthma and Community Resilience

**Authors:** Maureen Y. Lichtveld, Kaitlin Kirkpatrick Heimke, Laura J. Dietz, Firoz Abdoel Wahid, Jeanine M. Buchanich, Brian Conner Earle, Terry L. Noah

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/ppul.71513 · 2026-02-16

## TL;DR

This paper examines how community resilience affects childhood asthma, especially in low-income and environmentally challenged areas.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel approach to understanding asthma disparities through the lens of community resilience and environmental stressors.

## Key findings

- Combined environmental burdens and weak public health infrastructure worsen asthma disparities.
- Communities with stronger resilience show better asthma management and outcomes.
- Community engagement and adaptive systems are critical for mitigating asthma risks.

## Abstract

Pediatric asthma remains a leading global health concern and disproportionately affects children in low‐income and environmentally burdened communities. Chemical and non‐chemical stressors, including air pollution, allergens, climate‐related events, and psychosocial stress, contribute to asthma exacerbations and hinder effective disease management.

This paper explores the intersection of childhood asthma and community resilience, emphasizing the influence of environmental exposures, public health infrastructure, and targeted interventions on pediatric respiratory outcomes.

A series of case studies is used to examine how environmental and social stressors shape asthma risk and management. These case studies highlight patterns of exposure, community‐level challenges, and the role of public health systems and community‐engaged strategies.

Findings illustrate that combined environmental burdens and insufficient public health infrastructure contribute to persistent asthma disparities. Case studies also show that communities with stronger resilience—through resources, engagement, or adaptive systems—experience improved support for children with asthma.

Longitudinal research, policy reform, and community‐engaged interventions are essential to mitigate asthma disparities and support children's health in the face of environmental adversity.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** asthma (MONDO:0004979)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** stomach pain (MESH:D013272), depressed mood (MESH:D003866), eye irritation (MESH:D005128), tissue injury (MESH:D017695), respiratory symptoms (MESH:D012818), respiratory allergic inflammation (MESH:D012130), death (MESH:D003643), viral infections (MESH:D014777), infections (MESH:D007239), congestion (MESH:D002311), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), toxic (MESH:D064420), rashes (MESH:D005076), musculoskeletal pain (MESH:D059352), burn (MESH:D002056), airway inflammation (MESH:D007249), influenza (MESH:D007251), respiratory diseases (MESH:D012140), asthmatic (MESH:D013224), respiratory syncytial virus (MESH:D018357), breathing problems (MESH:D004417), lung disease (MESH:D008171), acute lung injury (MESH:D055371), pulmonary edema (MESH:D011654), Asthma (MESH:D001249), Anxiety (MESH:D001007), lung injury (MESH:D055370)
- **Chemicals:** butyl acrylate (MESH:C032490), Phosgene (MESH:D010705), VC (MESH:D014752), ozone (MESH:D010126), chlorine (MESH:D002713), water (MESH:D014867), greenhouse gases (MESH:D000074382), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (MESH:C017096), hydrochloric acid (MESH:D006851), ethylhexyl acrylate (MESH:C036758), oxygen (MESH:D010100), nitrogen dioxide (MESH:D009585)
- **Species:** Felis catus (cat, species) [taxon 9685], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Alternaria sect. Alternaria (section) [taxon 2499237], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Canis lupus familiaris (dog, subspecies) [taxon 9615]

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12907998/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12907998