Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
Dubai: Around 4,500 children in Dubai’s private schools suffer from asthma but according to health authorities most schoolchildren here are without asthma action plans, experts have warned.
An asthma action programme is a written treatment plan which helps manage asthma by helping prevent flare-ups and advising parents, teachers and school nurses on medication, what to do in case of asthma attacks and when to seek emergency care. It varies from person to person.
Similar to the scenario worldwide, asthma is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation of younger children and also of school absenteeism. Yet, its management has not received as much attention as it should, Dr Moulham Saleh Ashtar, Head of Bronchial Asthma Scientific Group at Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) Primary Healthcare Centre, said.
“Asthma is a serious public health problem as it is one of the major chronic diseases in the world, affecting 300 million people of all ages.”
If left uncontrolled it can be life-threatening and can result in irreversible damage, he said.
He was speaking to Gulf News at the first Asthma Parents Gathering in Dubai, organised by the DHA’s school health department on Saturday, at Emirates International School to educate parents.
Recent studies show one in seven people in the UAE have asthma, which is 13.6 per cent of the population, Dr Ashtar said. If children with wheezing are added to this, the figure rises to 20 per cent.
The prevalence of asthma is increasing in most countries, especially among children, which is alarming since it results in a significant burden not only in terms of health care costs but also lost productivity and reduced participation in family life, he said.
“It is of critical importance that doctors and nurses at schools know of asthma action plans of children at their schools, but most don’t,” Dr Amr Al Zawahry, Senior Paediatric Specialist at Latifa Hospital said. There is a long way to go in terms of improving the awareness and training of these school staff, he added.
In Dubai about 4,000 asthma patients are treated regularly at primary health care centres. Out of this, 41 per cent are schoolchildren and 56 per cent patients are women. Research shows boys are more likely to get asthma than girls, but among adults women are more susceptible.
“It is so hard to keep calm and do the right thing while your child is having an asthma attack,” Amal Ali Al Mehrezi, head of the DHA’s school health department, said recollecting her experience with her daughter.
Maggie Sahni Saluja couldn’t agree more. Her triplets, aged nine, are all asthmatic. “I have action plans for them and they too are well aware of what needs to be done.”
This is important to help those who are caring for them at the time and also in case parents go into panic mode, she said.
By Rayeesa Absal
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
