Asthma Tackled at Asian Regional Confab

Asthma on children were tackled at the 2007 Asian Regional Conference on Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, March 20th at the Luzon Ballroom, Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila.

The subjected was thoroughly discussed in her talk at the conference by Dr Bee Wah Lee-president of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Pulmonology and Immunology.

The symposium on asthma was brought about through the sponsorship of Metz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The visiting Singaporean doctor’s lecture was followed by an open forum which could have been extended but was cut short because of lack of time.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant, cold air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress.

In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel mostly ok but can have a slight problem feeling out of breath for longer periods of time.

The disorder is a chronic or recurring inflamatory condition in which the airway develops increased responsiveness to various stimuli, characterized by bronchial hyper-responsiveness, inflamation, increased mucus production, and intermittent airway obstruction. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes.

Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children.