Posts
The death from asthma of Aakriti Bhatia, a Class XII student of Modern School, Vasant Vihar, has focused attention on an illness few understand. Asthma is a chronic disease like diabetes and hypertension but can be harmless if monitored and fatal if neglected. How is a parent to judge?
Dr Vikram Sarbhai, senior consultant, pulmonology at Escorts and Max Hospitals says there is nothing like safe asthma and a wheeze is always bad, and never to be taken lightly. Dr J C Suri, head of Safdarjung Hospital's department of pulmonology, says, "Schools should keep nebulisers, asthma drugs and oxygen handly at all times and have a doctor, preferably."
In India, 4% of the population is asthmatic, out of which 5-10% are children, says Suri. A primer for parents: Don't let an asthmatic child go to school, his condition can deteriorate suddenly. If he has to go to school, make sure he carries the medication he needs, including inhalers. Make sure your child takes the doctor's prescription to school in case the school/hospital needs it in an emergency. Talk to your child's teacher, explain the problem and leave your contact numbers with her. If sport can't be avoided, tell your child to take 2-3 puffs of his inhaler. Don't stop medication if the child appears normal. Treatment includes low dose cortico-steroids and inhalers. Medicine is used to provide relief and/ or prevent asthma attacks.
Dr Vikram Sarbhai, senior consultant, pulmonology at Escorts and Max Hospitals says there is nothing like safe asthma and a wheeze is always bad, and never to be taken lightly. Dr J C Suri, head of Safdarjung Hospital's department of pulmonology, says, "Schools should keep nebulisers, asthma drugs and oxygen handly at all times and have a doctor, preferably."
In India, 4% of the population is asthmatic, out of which 5-10% are children, says Suri. A primer for parents: Don't let an asthmatic child go to school, his condition can deteriorate suddenly. If he has to go to school, make sure he carries the medication he needs, including inhalers. Make sure your child takes the doctor's prescription to school in case the school/hospital needs it in an emergency. Talk to your child's teacher, explain the problem and leave your contact numbers with her. If sport can't be avoided, tell your child to take 2-3 puffs of his inhaler. Don't stop medication if the child appears normal. Treatment includes low dose cortico-steroids and inhalers. Medicine is used to provide relief and/ or prevent asthma attacks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment