World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is organized by GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma), one of the collaborative organization of WHO. It was founded in the year 1993. World Asthma Day is held on first Tuesday of May, every year, worldwide. Every year GINA declares a theme regarding asthma awareness. The theme for the year 2023 is, “Asthma Care for All.”

GINA promotes the development and implementation of effective Asthma Management Program in all resource countries. The aim is to improve the lives of people with asthma globally, in all aspects of asthma care.

Global and National Epidemiology:

Asthma is a common disorder with global prevalence of 7.9%, and is characterized by chronic airway inflammation. The incidence is highest in childhood and adolescence but the disease can occur at any age. The disease is often presented as respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheeze, breathlessness and chest tightness that can vary over time and in intensity. In asthma there is airway narrowing, airway wall thickening and increased mucus production.

Asthma is a major Non Communicable Disease. 300 million worldwide are currently suffering from asthma and its prevalence increases by 50 % every decade. 1,80,000 deaths annually are attributable to asthma. In Asian countries prevalence varies from 5.2 % in Taipei to 30% in New Zealand and in other countries around 10 to 17%.

In India prevalence varies from 2.4 % in adults more than 15 years of age, to 4 to 20 % in children less than 15 years of age.

Etiology:

Some factors that produce or worsen asthma symptoms are called “triggers.” These include viral infections, domestic or occupational allergens (e.g. house dust mites, pollens, cockroach, animal dander, and moulds), tobacco smoke, exercise and even stress.  Some drugs also can induce or trigger asthma eg. Beta blockers and (in some patients) aspirin or other NSAIDS.

Asthma is a diverse condition that results from the interaction between a number of environmental and genetic factors. Allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are often associated with asthma.

Management

Even though asthma is a chronic condition it can be easily controlled with inhalation therapy in which drug is delivered directly to the lungs- at the site of inflammation, where it is mainly required.

Inhalers are one of the most widely researched and prescribed therapy. There are numerous benefits of inhaled therapy-

• like less quantity of drug is required,
• lesser side effects,
• rapid relief
• easy to take.

There are mainly two types of inhalation medicines available. One is reliever medicine which is taken for immediate relief and other is controller medicine which is to be taken regularly that is Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS).

Prevention:

Besides medications, avoiding triggers helps in asthma prevention.

40% of allergic rhinitis patients develop asthma in future, so if allergic rhinitis is kept under check, we can prevent asthma!

In an established asthmatic individual, regular Inhaler use (ICS) is the only way to prevent asthma attack and reliever inhalers are required to be kept handy in emergency.

Though the mortality from asthma has reduced over the years, quality of life of asthmatic individuals needs to be improved. That necessitates the combined efforts of health care professionals, patients and their families.

Increasing awareness about asthma, prevention of environmental risk factors, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are some of the key factors in controlling Asthma.

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