Non-curable but airway disease can be checked, says doctor

Asthma Day

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 3

Asthma Day is celebrated on first Tuesday of May every year. This year, the theme of the day is ‘Never too early, never too late. It’s always the right time to address the airway disease’.

An awareness programme was organised at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here on Thursday. Dr Puneet A Pooni, prof and head of pediatrics, cleared misconceptions about the disease.

Pooni said: “Asthma is chronic inflammation of airways which is characterised by recurrent and variable respiratory symptoms. It is the most common childhood respiratory diseases across the world. In India, around 8-10 per cent children may be suffering from the disease. Prevalence varies from 1-18 per cent,” she said.

Answering the question about diagnosing asthma, she said: “It is a clinical disease and no specific tests could be done to diagnose it. Any child who presents with recurrent (more than three times) features of airflow obstruction, like recurrent cough, or recurrent wheeze (whistling sounds from the chest), or recurrent breathlessness, night time cough, chest tightness, more symptoms on running, seasonal variation, response to nebulisations or recurrent chest infections on x-ray, is likely to be afflicted with the disease. Other features are worsening of symptoms on exposure to allergens such as dust or strong smell, or family history of asthma, or excessive sneezing, etc.”

Pooni said: “We must remember that asthma has no cure but can be controlled. Once it is properly controlled, a majority of children will outgrow the disease when they grow up. But if symptoms are not controlled, then the disease may cause permanent damage to airways.”

Expert at DMCH answers...

What precautions should be taken to avoid repeated attacks of asthma?

There are 2 types of inhalers given. One is to prevent symptoms, which is given for a few months, and other inhaler is to relieve the acute symptoms. Apart from the regular therapy, child’s exposure to various triggers or irritants should be avoided.  

What food items should be avoided?

Asthma is a disease of respiratory system and not of gastrointestinal system. So no home-cooked food has to be avoided. Curd, banana, rice, etc. and other home-cooked items can be consumed safely. Only thing to be avoided is soft drinks which may contain sulfites and food with preservatives.

Can a child suffering from the disease play?

Child with asthma should be able to play like any other healthy child. If a child gets symptoms during running or playing, dose of inhaler needs to be adjusted and to make sure there is no trigger. Overweight children have asthma which is difficult to control and not playing in sunlight decreases blood vitamin D levels, which can also worsen the condition. But when there is too much dust or harvesting season, precautions should be taken.

Nebuliser vs inhaler

• Home nebuliser therapy is expensive and not routinely recommended as the dose required in nebuliser is very high. 
• Inhalers are easy to use for children of all ages, including infants. Inhaled therapy is always the treatment of choice. MDI with spacer is a versatile device.