Asthma: Experts Harp On Effective Management

FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

As the whole world celebrates the World Asthma Day [WAD] 2018, a day which comes up on every first Tuesday in the month of May, physicians have maintained that in order to properly manage the genetic disorder, sufferers should make adequate use of medications, inhalers and stoppage of drug overdose.

They also maintained that being a chronic disease, management is mainly through the use of medications and also a change in lifestyle.

Speaking on the background of the year 2018 WAD theme: “Never Too Early, Never Too Late: It’s Always The Right Time To Address Airways Disease”, Dr. Atilola Adeleke , a family Medicine Physician with the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, [LTH], Osogbo, stated that the problem facing the management of the disease condition is multifaceted.

According to him, “It involves the patients, health care providers, as well as the availability of health care facilities.

“Lack of resources in terms of procurement of drugs; inappropriate diagnosis on the side of health care providers although not common and lack of adequate follow up in our health care centres are some of the issues”.

In proffering a way out, the physician counseled that the solution was early presentation and compliance on the part of the patients.

“Appropriate diagnosis and good follow up on the part of physicians and provision of basic equipment at our hospitals as well as subsidy on some of the drugs for the patients are solutions”, he added.

Adeleke stressed that Asthma is a deadly disease which should not be handled with kid gloves in case an emergency presents itself.

“Any Asthma patient who has come down with an attack should take his or her medication, most likely an inhaler and should report to the nearest health facility for treatment”.

Another physician, Dr. Alatise noted that Asthma is an emergency which has several challenges arising as it is being managed, saying, first, the population lacked the information on how to approach and prevent future attacks and also to recognize acute asthmatic symptoms and carry out basic home care.

Dr. Alatise also revealed that most health facilities lack basic emergency kits and medications and even oxygen for first aid and resuscitation might not be available.

He charged doctors, nurses and other health care workers on the need to routinely update their knowledge on acute asthma management protocol.

“The information is readily known in other climes. Health professionals, television and radio stations need to do more in the area of awareness creation”.

Tolulope Babatope, an Asthma patient who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER, revealed that it had been tough coping with the condition but because she had been complying with the advice of her physician, whenever she experienced attack, she always used her medications.

“When I was first diagnosed of the condition, I was in primary school and in order to modify my lifestyle, I was given a list of things not to do and foods not to eat. It was not easy at first but as time went on and because I wanted a change in my health status, I had to adhere to it.

“The Asthma is still there and I still experience attacks occasionally but the attack is not as dangerous as that of a patient who has not been faithful with their medication”.