Asthma in children on rise in city: PGI study

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.

Says Dr Bhavneet Bharti,of the same department “While there are many myths attached to the disease and its treatment,children with asthma who take appropriate treatment can lead a normal life. Parents sometimes restrict the participation of their child in sports and games for fear that they will develop an asthma attack”.

However,doctors emphasised that with proper asthma control using appropriate medication,children can be encouraged to participate in all sports activities. In fact,there are many asthmatic children who have achieved great heights in different fields including physically demanding competitive sports,said doctors at the Advanced Pediatric Centre of PGI.