KARACHI, May 30: The cases of asthma have assumed such critical proportions among children in Karachi that during the last five years the ratio has almost doubled which shows the situation is alarming, warranting immediate attention of the health planners.

This was stated by some members of the Pakistan Chest Society at a press conference titled “Asthma Explosion in Karachi” held on Friday. The conference was held to apprise journalists about the current status of the disease, besides creating awareness about issues in asthma management, prevention and treatment.

The occasion was unique due to the fact that some asthma patients also attended the briefing who conveyed their feelings about day-to-day problems faced by them.

It was stated during the press conference that in 2002, an estimated 9.4 million patients in the country consulted physicians following asthma-related complications. However, less than one third of them received proper treatment through anti-inflammatory medications.

The average duration of treatment received by a patient was 10 days and the focus was on symptomatic relief rather than a treatment of the root causes. The primary reason for under-treatment was identified as lack of education both on part of the general practitioners and also the patients.

Dr Naseeruddin Mahmood, a consultant paediatrician at the Aga Khan University, attributed increased consumption of processed and junk food during the last five years, besides growing use of mosquito coils, as the root cause of the rising incidence of asthma. Fast food had more chemicals than other kinds of food which might be having an adverse impact on the health of children.

Citing a study conducted in 1995 by the AKU at a large number of schools to find out the prevalence of asthma disease among students, he said it was found that some 9.4 per cent of the students, both girls and boys, were found to be having the disease.

“Similar data collected from schools five years later revealed that prevalence of asthma had more than doubled which indicated that out of every five school-going children, one was found to be a victim of the disease.”

He pointed out that the population of Karachi was rising rapidly and with it the number of asthma patients.

Dr Mousavir Ansarie of the Liaquat National Hospital — articulating his views about measures to control asthma explosion and to create awareness among masses against the same — said the disease principally involved chronic and persistent inflammation of the lung’s air passages.

“This could either be genetic, that is could run in the family, or be a consequence of allergens or irritants in our environment.” He highlighted the changing lifestyle, smoking and chemically preserved foods or colours as contributing factors in the rising prevalence of asthma.

“Common manifestations of the disease includes persistent cough, wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, difficulty in breathing, excessive production of mucous and plugging of mucosin, leading to blockade”.

While talking about asthma management approaches, he said prevention from environmental triggers was important. However, treatment had to be focussed on anti-inflammatory therapies.

He said asthma victims were barred from consuming some foodstuffs. He was of the opinion that a patient should not be subjected to unnecessary restrictions having no scientific basis.

Dr Ashraf Sadiq, president of the Pakistan Chest Society, said alongwith prevention from environmental triggers, aggressive anti-inflammatory treatment of asthma was extremely important which could only be done by blocking dual pathways of asthmatic inflammation.

He specially drew the attention of health planners and the authorities towards controlling environmental pollution. He also sounded a note of appeal to the public to quit smoking, besides discouraging other people from smoking in public spaces.

Dr Shahid Masood, a well-known anchorperson, said special responsibility lay on the media to educate people in their own language about the negative impacts of asthma. “Unless we do not create consciousness among masses about the lethal disease in simple and comprehendible language, the message will not be channelled to them properly and effectively,” he remarked.

Dr I.S. Burki of the Lyari General Hospital criticized the advertisements in print media that were sponsored by some homeopathic doctors who claimed they were capable to curing any disease.

The editor of the Pakistan Chest Society Journal said asthma cases were reported from across the globe, with differing epidemiology. He regretted that reliable data on prevalence of asthma in Pakistan were not available.

Meanwhile, the experts agreed that inhalers were the safest mode of treatment as cortisone, the main therapeutic ingredient suggested for asthma, was provided in safer quantities to the patient through them as compared to tablets and syrups.— PPI/APP