The city of Chennai has about six lakh asthma patients and out of that almost 20 per cent are children. Though exact national statistics are not available, the incidence of the disease is more in South India than in North India, according to the findings of Asthma Foundation, Chennai.

Main reasons for the disease are changing life habits and pollution, closed urban surroundings with lack of ventilation, fried foods and snacks, smoking etc. Though pollution cannot be considered the root cause for asthma, the increasing level of pollution has contributed to severe attack of the disease.

According to Dr.Martyn Patridge, Chief Medical Adviser of the National Asthma Campaign, U.K., who was here recently to participate in a seminar of the Asthma Foundation, lack of proper education on preventive methods among the patients result in increasing the disease in India. The usage of inhalers has not been popularized in the country, and many patients and doctors believe it as addictive. The doctors should encourage the patients to use inhalers. Similarly, the doctors should educate the patients on the benefits of treating the disease with corticosteroids, which are effective to control the disease.

Most of the patients try for immediate cure than treating the disease, though there are many cost-effective treatment methods available. The Government should develop a multi-pronged strategy to fight the disease, by co-coordinating the patients, hospitals, NGOs, doctors etc. The incidence of asthma deaths and patients had drastically reduced in countries like U.K., New Zealand, Australia etc., as their respective Governments had done elaborate national campaigns to fight and prevent the disease, said Dr.Patridge.

Another problem that has compounded the disease is the inability of the doctors to detect Asthma in its early stages, as most of the patients are treated for bronchitis and similar diseases. Respiratory medical experts concentrate on treating communicable diseases like Tuberculosis. Doctors should communicate more with the patients to address their concerns and educate them on the disease, said Dr.Patridge.