Jalandhar, May 3
Asthma, one of the most chronic disorders, is gripping more and more children world-wide with about 15 to 20 million cases in India alone. The deaths due to asthma have increased by more than 25 per cent in the USA during past two decades, experts say.

Disclosing this on World Asthma Day today, prominent chest physician and interventional pulmonologist Dr HJ Singh said asthma has acquired shape of a serious global health problem. “Asthma is a significant burden in terms of healthcare costs, lost productivity and reduced participation in the family life. Asthma is an allergic disorder, wherein, allergy testing is one of the cheapest and non-invasive methods. Moreover, it keeps control of the disease by way of immunotherapy,” said Dr HJ Singh.

“The disease has spread its tentacles to such an extent that it accounts for 12 per cent of maladies affecting school children of the country. The affected children miss schools for 30 days in a year on an average. The disease carries a huge social and economic impact. It casts its negative shadow on growth of children and their learning abilities. Among adults, it leads to loss of work and decreased productivity,” said Dr HJ Singh.

Making an interesting revelation about the disease, Dr Singh said asthma afflicts boys more than girls; among adults the disease affects both the sexes in the same way. “The disease occurs in families, basically, due to abnormal response to environmental allergens. The main factors responsible include allergens’ over-exposure, viral infections, small size at birth, diet, tobacco, smoking and environmental pollutants. Allergy plays a major role in causing the disease. The main worry in asthma was that it remains undiagnosed and untreated,” said Dr HJ Singh.

He said step-wise approach to drugs; inhaled cortico-steroids were the corner stone of the treatment nowadays. They have minimal side effects and are affective for control of the disease among children, too. He said bronchial thermoplasty was the new ray of hope for the patients,” said Dr HJ Singh, the owner of the local Ranjit Hospital.

He said his hospital was going to organise a camp for diagnosis, management and health education to control asthma on May 13.