Young child’s death: we need more asthma research

Media statement

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation

8 April, 2009

For immediate release

Young child’s death: we need more asthma research too

The tragic case of a 2 ½ year-old boy who died in hospital in late 2007 following a ‘moderately severe’ asthma attack highlights the fact that we need more research into child asthma in New Zealand and to keep searching for a cure, says the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.

‘Young Reef Steiner’s death was absolutely devastating for the parents. This is heartbreaking stuff, ‘says Foundation Executive Director, Jane Patterson.

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson recently released a report that recommended remedial action and included a statement from an independent Paediatrician that: ‘[Reef Steiner] died following a severe attack of asthma and if the severity of his situation had been recognised…there might have been a different outcome.’

Reef was transferred from Tauranga Hospital and died in Starship Children’s Hospital following respiratory and heart failure. The report refers to procedural changes made by the Bay of Plenty DHB following the death and further training undertaken by the doctor who treated the child.

‘Without commenting on the details of this case, we do know however that many people still die in New Zealand each year from asthma. We need to develop better asthma treatments and do the research that will support this. We must do more to fight this illness, which kills and limits the lives of our children and is such a burden on our country’ Jane says.

‘We have the second highest rate of asthma in the world in this country, 1 in 4 Kiwi kids has asthma and the illness is the leading reason for children and young people being hospitalised in New Zealand. We need to do much better.’

The Asthma Awareness Week/Balloon Day campaign from 4 to 10 May 2009 will promote asthma awareness and raise funds for child asthma research.
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