Bronchial asthma - problems and challenges

Vijayan, V K (1996) Bronchial asthma - problems and challenges. Lung India, 14 (2). pp. 57-59. ISSN Print: 0970-2113; Online: 0974-598X

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Abstract

The prevalence of bronchial asthma, a major public health problem is increasing world wide (1,2). Asthma was found to be more prevalent among black and poor American children (3). However, other studies had not shown such racial differences (4,5). High prevalence of asthma has been reported in urban areas and low prevalence in rural communities (3,6). prevalence of asthma is also found to be higher in boys than in girls (7). Other risk factors for developing asthma especially in children include exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and air pollution, low birth weight, and children of younger mothers (8). Several studies had demonstrated increase in morbidity and mortality from bronchial asthma (9). Over and under treatment of asthma may be responsible for high mortality rates (10). The increase in asthma deaths has been attributed to regular use of b agonists that may lead to worsening of asthma (11). The excess mortality from b agonists has been demonstrated with fenoterol but not with salbutamol (11,12). However, further long term studies are required to settle this controversy. India is a subcontinent with different geographic, racial, cultural and economic groups. It is a pity that there are no well conducted studies from India to know the exact prevalence of asthma and its influence on various geographic, socio-economic and racial factors. In this issue of the journal, Gupta provides the clinical profile of the asthma as seen in eastern India (13). Even though it is a hospital based study, it gives a glimpse of the gravity of the problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need for undertaking multicentric prevalence studies in bronchial asthma in our country.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Tuberculosis > Clinical Research
Divisions:	Clinical Research
Depositing User:	Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited:	27 Sep 2013 09:25
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2016 05:11
URI:	http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/423

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