This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about clean air and asthma and allergies. Inner-city children are more likely to suffer from asthma — and to miss school because of asthma problems, which gives them an additional disadvantage. That’s largely because of their environment.

Dr. Rebecca Gruchalla, chief of allergy at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says indoor allergens play an important role in inner-city asthma. These can include dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, mice, mold and tobacco smoke. Children in inner-city environments are more likely to be exposed to these allergens at home or school. Studies have found that efforts to teach parents to remove the sources of indoor allergens can lead to fewer hospitalizations for asthma and fewer missed days of school.

Next: The leading cause of asthma from indoor allergens.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/allergy to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in allergies.