Asthma in children on rise in city: PGI study

Prevalence of asthma is increasing in the city with a research study of PGIMER showing that asthma affects as many as 5-10 per cent of children in Chandigarh, belonging to all social classes and economic strata.

Although it is relatively easy to diagnose and manage, there are no diagnostic tests that can definitely clinch the diagnosis, said Prof Sunit Singhi, head of the Pediatrics Department, PGIMER. To clear the misconception about asthma in children and generate more awareness, the department will host a Public Health Lecture on childhood asthma on Tuesday between 3pm and 5pm in the auditorium of Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGIMER.

Even though there are many concerns about asthma in children, confusion prevails among parents of the children who sometimes confuse childhood asthma with the adult form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he added.

The major difference is that asthma represents reversible airway obstruction, whereas adult COPD is an irreversible and progressive condition. This distinction is missed by families and they become fearful of the disease and its treatment, said Professor Sunit Singhi, the head of APC.

The PGI experts in childhood asthma explained that there are several misconceptions about inhalers and inhalation therapy, but scientific research has proven that this is the safest and most effective form of treatment in childhood asthma. All other medications are less safe and also less effective. Research conducted at PGIMER has examined the efficacy of various inhalation devices and identified that a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer is the most versatile for routine use in children.

Interestingly, PGI holds a weekly special clinic for asthma in children wherein at least 6-7 new cases are diagnosed every week. Nearly 70 patients of asthma are examined in the clinic and the number of new patients among them is around 10 per cent, said the doctors.

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