Asthma affects around about 20% of school-aged children in Qatar, according to an expert from Hamad medical Corporation (HMC).
“The chronic respiratory illness cannot be cured but can be controlled and continuous medical care is an important part of the equation,” Dr Mehdi Adeli, senior consultant in Allergy and Immunology, said.
Incorrect use of medications is a leading cause of unnecessary asthma attacks, emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
“Asthma is managed by controlling inflammation with medication, good medical care, monitoring, and avoiding triggers, when possible,” said Dr Adeli, who also leads HMC’s Allergy and Immunology Awareness Programme.
Triggers are factors that irritate the airways and cause asthma symptoms. There are multiple triggers of asthma, with allergens and irritants being the most common. Triggers can change from season to season and as a child grows older, but common triggers include dust mites, pet dander, viral infections, and cigarette smoke. The change in weather can also be a trigger, with Qatar’s summer months often bringing dust and humidity.
“Identifying triggers, allergens and irritants can take time but once patterns are discovered some triggers can be avoided and steps can be taken to reduce exposure to others. It is important for parents to know that allergies develop over time with continued exposure to allergens, so a child’s asthma may change over time. It is also important for parents to know that while allergies can make asthma worse, not all children with asthma have allergies,” said Dr Adeli.
According to Dr Adeli, the transition from winter to summer can be challenging for patients with asthma, both children and adults, because it is the time of year when some stop taking their medication.
Dr Adeli said it is important for patients, and parents in the case of child patients, to ensure all medications are taken as prescribed, even if there are no symptoms. He said many patients are lulled into a false sense of security if they go for a long period without an attack, but that stopping prescribed medications can result in compromised lung function.
“Once a patient’s asthma is well controlled on medication, he or she may feel like they’ve been cured. It’s important to continue to use anti-inflammatory maintenance medications. The steroids in these medications help prevent inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath and can help make an individual less likely to react to asthma triggers, such as pollen or dust,” said Dr Adeli.
Developing an effective medication plan to control asthma can take time. Different medications work more or less effectively for different kinds of asthma, and some combinations work well for some patients but not for others. According to Dr Adeli, most children with asthma benefit from preventive treatment because it decreases inflammation in the airways. He said for most patients a combination of medicine is prescribed covering both quick-relief medications and long-term preventive medications.
HMC’s Allergy and Immunology Awareness Programme is focused on educating the public about allergies and immunology and empowering patients and their families to increase patient satisfaction and confidence and reduce emergency room visits for allergy-related illnesses.