Despite pollution, new cases of asthma in city decreasing

Despite pollution, new cases of asthma in city decreasing
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Cases of intermittent asthma have been decreasing in the city despite the increasing pollution. But those with persistent asthma continue to be dogged by vehicular emissions. The decrease in new cases of asthma comes as good news to Bangalore, where the climate was known cause acute asthma.

A few years ago people with asthma and their families were advised to leave the city.

According to a study conducted by Dr H Paramesh, chairman, Technical Advisory Committee, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, and Director, Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, cases of intermittent asthma has decreased from 80 per cent in 1994 to 63.40 per cent in 2004. But the severity of persistent asthma has increased from 20 per cent in 1994 to 36.60 per cent in 2004.

‘‘There have been very rare cases of new cases of asthma or intermittent asthma. This is because of the saturation of the genetically predisposed population,’’ he says. The new generation is not genetically vulnerable to the disorder. Asthma in the paediatric group has come down substantially.

But those already suffering with asthma are having a tough time with the increase in the severity of asthma. This is due to the increase in pollution. This suffering population is spending more on medication now. ‘‘This might become an economic burden and the country may spend Rs 13,528 crore on their medication alone in 2015. Currently Rs 7,399 crore is spent on them. In 1995 only Rs 3,108 was being spent. There has been an increase every year,’’ he says.

Studies have also shown a change in the seasonal variation of asthma. Cases of asthma in children have decreased from 75.8 per cent to 24.3 per cent in monsoons and from 82.3 per cent to 55.8 per cent in winter. But in the summer there is an upward trend where the cases have increased to 19.9 per cent from 2.8 per cent.

‘‘This is because there is more vehicular exhaust during summer than in other seasons,’’ he says.

Children in urban areas suffer more from asthma than rural children. Children from schools with heavy traffic suffer are at the receiving end and asthma is more prevalent in children with ill ventilated huts. Indoor air pollution has altered the gender prevalence of asthma. ‘‘Girls are more susceptible to asthma, since they are more exposed to the smoke in the kitchen,’’ he says.