World Asthma Day: Incidence of Asthma worsening in Nigeria

Marking the world Asthma Day, today, Nigerian Thoracic Society bemoaned increasing cases of asthma in Nigeria, currently put at 15million Nigerians, due to increasing urbanisation and uptake of western lifestyle.

In a release signed by its President, Professor Peters Etete and secretary, Dr.O.O. Adewole, the body described asthma as one of the most common chronic lung diseases that people deal with everyday and affecting approximately 400 million people worldwide.

With asthma cases projected to grow by more than 100 million by 2025, they stated that breathing is better and at its best for everyone if the air one is breathing in regularly is of good quality.

The body warned that the environment was having a huge impact on asthma exacerbations and that “air pollution is an important trigger for asthma”.

According to them, “In Nigeria, common sources of air pollution include biomass fumes (smoke from burning wood or other plant or animal products) for cooking or warmth, cigarette smoke and car exhausts.

“Similarly, climate change which is also related to many human activities contributes to increasing asthma incidence and exacerbations. Workplace air quality and industrial pollutions are important but are often overlooked.”

NTS, the umbrella body of all professionals involved in respiratory care, however, declared that Nigeria’s lack of a National Guideline on Asthma management was a barrier to asthma care in the country.

To this end, it said it was launching the National Asthma Guideline as part of events to mark the WAD.

The guideline, it said is important so as to ensure that practitioners adopt the minimum level of standards required in asthma and to see how such care is comparable to international best practices.

The body, while soliciting for improved and better partnerships government agencies and other relevant stakeholders to implement the recommendations of this guideline, declared, “This will ultimately reduce asthma related deaths and morbidity.”