World Asthma Day observed in DMCH

Ludhiana, May 3, 2016: Department of Pediatrics today observed World Asthma Day by organizing declamation contest among all the PG residents of Pediatrics Department. Dr. Kriti ( Final Year), Dr Suati (Second Year) and Dr Yadwinder (First year) were awarded the prizes. The first Tuesday of May is marked every year as World Asthma Day (WAD) .World Asthma Day is a step taken by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to spread awareness and care about the respiratory disorder around the world.

Dr Puneet A Pooni, Prof and Head of Pediatrics, who is also master trainer of Asthma in children and looking after Asthma Clinic in DMC said that the day was initially commemorated in 1998 by the World Asthma Foundation at the first World Asthma Meeting (WAM) held in Barcelona, Spain. The primary focus of the day is to support the persons affected by asthma and also their family members to fight against the disease and overcome it successfully.

The theme for World Asthma Day this year is "You can Control Asthma" with the sub theme "It's Time to Control Asthma" The theme focuses on the aim of reducing asthma deaths and potentially decreasing its incidence worldwide.

Asthma Statistics
• Asthma affects 300 million people globally
• Every year about 250,000 people die of asthma prematurely around the world
• It is estimated that asthma will grow by more than 100 million by 2025
• 14% of children have asthma while 9% of young adults are suffering from it
• 80% of asthma deaths occur in low-income countries
• India has 20 million asthmatics and the burden is higher than TB and HIV combined

Inhalers are the main course of asthma treatment, but lots of asthmatics remain reluctant to it.
Inhaled corticosteroid therapy helps control asthmatic symptoms by delivering the drugs to the lungs in small doses, potentially reducing the side-effects. But when it comes to oral asthma drugs, the dosage is higher and there are chances of the drug reaching to other parts of the body, triggering side effects.

Therefore, asthma inhalers do not pose any side effects and it is the best treatment for the disease. Preventers are mostly inhalers containing corticosteroids which help in better management of asthma, in the long run, physicians recommend this to prevent the fatality.
Asthma is a non-communicable disease and it's meaningless to worry about coming in contact with the people affected. Acceptance is a crucial aspect that will encourage asthmatics to use inhalers in public.

On this World Asthma Day, it's time to shatter these barriers and encourage everybody to raise awareness about the chronic condition and support people affected by the condition. Every person affected by asthma can take these little steps to keep their symptoms under check.

• Motivate yourself to take medications daily
• Visit the doctor regularly and ask about your improvement
• Never believe on rumors about asthma medications
• Take all safety measures to avoid triggers
• Carry inhalers with you all the time and never feel shy to use it
• Always inform the doctor if you have stopped medications
• Don't stress and have a casual attitude towards health

Parents should be aware of triggers which need to be avoided, like use of perfumes, sprays, deodorants, construction, dusting, blankets, paintings, chalks, carpets powder, smoking, soft toys, pets, cockroaches, agarbatis, and to avoid taking any soft drinks.

It's our vital duty to support asthma patients and remove the social stigma associated with it. Therefore, support and help asthma patients by:
• Creating awareness among children as they are the most affected
• Educating children about asthma management in fun ways
• Organizing free asthma screening clinics for school children
• Accompanying your loved ones to the hospital
• Ensuring proper medications are taken regularly

The path to asthma control is tough and needs long-term effort, but the fight against it is not very far.

Fortunately in children, with proper precautions and treatment, 80% of children will outgrow asthma. DMCH is running weekly chest clinic on every Thursday for the last more than 10 years and there are more than 1200 children on follow up.