Emphasis needs to be on controlling asthma
Taranaki parents need to be more vigilant in managing their children’s asthma.
A Massey University report shows high numbers of children are being hospitalised for the disease in the region. The report found Taranaki has the country’s sixth highest rate of child hospitalisation with asthma with a rate of 710 children aged under 15 admitted per 100,000 - a three per cent higher level than the national average of 688 per 100,000.
While many children grow out of asthma as they age, one in every nine adults are believed to be living with the disease.
Associate Professor Jim Reid from Otago University says New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world with around 70 people dying from the disease each year.
‘‘While we don’t fully understand why the rates of asthma are so high among New Zealand adults and children, more needs to be done to get asthma under control.’’
Professor Reid says with winter approaching, it’s important to be aware of the seasonal changes with viral infections being one of the major asthma triggers.
‘‘With the onset of cold and flu season, it is critical that adult asthmatics and parents watch out for asthma symptoms which may signal a potentially deadly attack.
‘‘If asthmatics begin to exhibit an increasing wheeze that doesn’t respond to a reliever inhaler which is usually blue in colour, they have difficulty speaking in full sentences or they begin to turn blue - these are all signs they need immediate medical intervention from a doctor,’’ he says.
‘‘Common asthma triggers to be aware of include; a cold or virus, cigarette smoke (including passive smoking), exposure to nitrogen dioxide from gas heaters and car exhausts and indoor dampness or mould.
‘‘It is important to maintain a temperature of around 20 degrees in the home,’’ he says.