"Asthma control is sub-optimal because people do not control the disease in a proper manner," Dr Naseeruddin, a well-renowned consultant paediatrician, expressed these views at the Asthma Awareness Programme organised by 'Mediators' at the Defence Authority Creek Club on Friday.
It could be said that 10 percent asthmatics (with severe or under-treated asthma) are at a risk of emergency treatment in hospital, he said and added that it is estimated that there are 22,000 deaths from asthma every year in Pakistan.
According to Dr Naseer, there was a risk of death in poorly treated asthma, particularly in children, where the disease has been poorly managed.
Explaining the effects of the disease through a presentation, he said that it should be kept in mind that asthma could become chronic if not treated properly and people should not underestimate or misunderstand the disease.
"According to a data 30 children die daily of severe asthma attack."
Dr Naseer said that in order to avoid the mortality rate of asthma or the cost of hospitalisation, preventive measures should be taken to control the disease.
"Risk of asthma is not high in breast-fed children. Breast-feeding is beneficial and could help a child fight the symptoms of asthma. Asthma should be diagnosed at an early stage because timely treatment could lower the risk of sever attacks in a patient."
Regarding the use of nebuliser and inhaler, the renowned paediatrician said that there was no data that showed that inhalation destroys the respiratory tract and had no side effects either. Oral drugs on the other hand have various side effects and could damage the lever, he added. Inhaled medication is preferable as it contains the same amount of medication as tablets have but with fewer side effects, Dr Naseer said.
On the issue of steroid in Ventolin inhaler, he said that steroids are prescribed as a last resort and prove to be effective but how it is used is important. "Oral steroids given for more than 7 days could have various side effects on the body but inhaled steroids given either by a nebuliser or inhaler could be given for more than 24 months as they have fewer side effects. Inhaled steroids are delivered direct to the lungs."
Explaining silent asthma, Dr Naseer said that it was a dangerous condition. Diagnosis of acute asthma is easy as the sound of wheezing could be heard through a stethoscope, but in silent asthma, the diameter of the lungs narrows and the air doesn't pass through, he said, adding, that's why one cannot hear any sound in the airways of a silent asthma patient.
Concluding the presentation, Dr Naseer said that the ingredients or chemicals used in the junk food are not good for health. Dry fruits are good for respiratory diseases and children should eat more dry fruits than junk food.
He said that asthmatics could lead a normal life if their asthma was well controlled. "Asthma is a chronic disease and it is a permanent condition. It could get better with time or disappear in some children but could also recur."
The Mediators have formulated a society to project the causes and effects of asthma through Health & Awareness Forum.