Breathe out the problems

There are a range of health and environmental factors that affect lung health. This includes tuberculosis (TB),tobacco smoke,biomass fuel smoke,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,asthma,pneumonia among other respiratory infections. The evidence of their potentially devastating effects on global public health is increasing and they require a coordinated approach for control. These diseases all occur in predominantly resource-poor countries. They are perpetuated by poverty and inadequate resources and their control and management require coordinated approach among health programmes at all levels.

Statistically,there is one TB-related death that takes place every 18 seconds,one HIV death every 16 seconds,one child dies of pneumonia every 15 seconds and one smoking-related death every 13 seconds. More than two billion people or a third of the world’s total population,are infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is now the world’s seventh-leading cause of death. It killed 1.8 million people worldwide last year,up from 1.77 million in 2007. It is one of the three primary diseases that are closely linked to poverty,the other two being AIDS and malaria.

Tobacco smoking is unquestionably the primary risk factor for COPD. More than five million deaths are attributed to tobacco use every year. Smokers have two fold higher risk of developing active TB disease. Tobacco smokers have 2 times more risk of dieing of TB. Tobacco smoke increases the risk of pneumonia,influenza,menningococcal meningitis,among others. Evidence is accumulating that smoking is a risk factor for TB,says a release issued by Stop-TB is an international eForum facilitating discussion of programmatic and policy aspects of TB control and TB/HIV integration.

Asthma is yet another major lung health challenge. It is a chronic disease that affects airways. More than 300 million people around the world have asthma,and the disease imposes a heavy burden on individuals,families,and societies. The Global Burden of Asthma Report,indicates that asthma control often falls short and there are many barriers to asthma control around the world. Proper long-term management of asthma will permit most patients to achieve good control of their disease.