MEDITERANEAN UNION OF THORACIC DISEASES LATKIA SEMINAR
1-3 NOVEMBER 2007
PEDIATRIC ASTHMA IN LEBANON
Asthma is a common chronic disease and a major public health problem especially among pediatric population and many have "hidden" or undiagnosed form..
It is the most common cause of school absenteeism
Despite improved understanding of the patho physiology of asthma and the development of new therapeutic strategies, the high incidence of asthma and asthma related mortality and morbidity are still at increasing rates annually mainly in developed countries.
Even though asthma cannot be cured, it can almost always be controlled.
It is noticed that (in Lebanon ) compliance with asthma guidelines is affected by patient income and level of education .
The better the family understand asthma and its treatment, the better is the ability to control it.
.Asthma is as much a disease of communication as of inflammation. It is a disease that can kill if not managed properly. . It can be a very rewarding disease to treat.
With asthma incidence being higher among children of low socioeconomic class (in Lebanon )Optimal management can be achieved by educating both patients and their families to make life style changes and adhere to drug therapy for long periods even when symptoms are not present.
Causes that trigger and conditions or stimuli that precipitate in initiation of asthma must be avoided especially environmental ,exercise, infections, allergy irritants, weather ,emotions.. (as in Lebanon ).
We have to investigate parental beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes towards asthma and its management in order to improve parental awareness and compliance through education in order to reach the goals of asthma treatment and control.
|
