Laughter proves bad joke for asthma sufferers

Laughter is not always the best medicine, according to a study which found giggling is more likely to trigger an asthma attack than exercise, allergy or pollution.

The study, presented at the annual meeting of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand in Cairns yesterday, found laughter-induced asthma accounted for about a third of all asthma attacks in children.

"This is one example where laughter is not the best medicine," Richard Henry, a professor in paediatrics, said after presenting the University of New South Wales study.

Professor Henry said the study confirmed a long-held belief that laughter was a significant spur for asthma attacks. "For a long time we have had a clinical impression that parents have been coming to us and saying laughter brings on asthma.

"In particular, mothers don't like fathers tickling children because it gets the kids excited and seems to bring on an attack."

He observed the children who attended the emergency department of the Sydney Children's Hospital for six months last year. Laughter-related asthma was reported in 40 per cent of a group of 541 children.

Older children seemed more prone to mirth-related asthma, although the reason was unclear.

On a positive note Professor Henry said laughter-triggered asthma could be avoided if the asthma was well managed.

Rather than prevent children from laughing parents should take an attack as a sign their children's treatment needed to be handled better.

- NZPA