KARACHI, May 6: Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday emphasized the need for measures to prevent asthma, which has spread fast in the country, like other parts of the world, over the past decade.

At a seminar on Ways to ease the burden of asthma, organized by Pakistan Press Foundation in connection with World Asthma Day, experts stressed that preventing asthma was the best way to ease the burden worldwide.

President of the Chest Society of Pakistan Dr Nadeem Rizvi said that people should avoid using such furniture which could carry dust mites, the main cause of asthma. Similarly, he said, use of junk food by the children should also be checked. Perfumes, sprays and deodorants, passive smoking, etc., are some of the other sources creating the problem.

Dr Rizvi said that mostly children suffer from this disease, but adults also got affected. Most of the patients appeared to be under-18, he observed, and said: "It is a hereditary disease and, as such, if one of the parents has asthma, there are 20 per cent chances of their children to get affected. If both the parents suffer from the disease, the risk doubles."

Associate Professor at the Liaquat National Hospital Dr Muhammad Hussain said that a frequent change in weather conditions and increasing pollution were also some of the causes of a rise in asthma incidence in Karachi.

He said the disease could be controlled effectively but could not be cured fully. He said that an asthma patient should not keep pets at home as their hair carried germs that could aggravate the case. Such a patient should also avoid visiting the places where fumigation was carried out.

Dr Hussain suggested that bed spreads should be washed at least once in a week with warm water and that use of carpets should be avoided. He stressed that an asthma patient should not discontinue taking preventive measures even when not having asthma attacks. Regular follow-up consultations with doctors was also essential. -PPI