By Chioma Obinna

As the world yesterday marked World Asthma Day, there are fears that extreme heat and heavy rainfall may increase risk of hospitalisation for asthma. Meanwhile, no fewer than 15 million Nigerians are suffering from asthma.

According to findings by scientists at the University of Maryland School Of Public Health, extreme heat and heavy rainfall are related to increased risk of hospitalization for asthma.

The findings published in the Journal Environmental Health revealed that the increases in risk were particularly high during summer months.

“Previous scientific studies have shown that extreme weather events are becoming more common, more intense, and longer lasting in response to changing climate. Our study shows is that increases in the number of extreme heat and extreme precipitation events, particularly during summer months, lead to more asthma hospitalisations.

Meanwhile, experts have raised alarm over the increasing number of Nigerians living with asthma.

At an event to mark World Asthma Day in Nigeria, Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS), warned that a large number of them stand a high chance of dying from the disease due to inadequate education.

In his submission, President of NTS, Prof. Peter Etete, said that currently in Nigeria, 75 per cent of hospital admissions from asthma and as many as 90 per cent of the deaths from the disease are avoidable.

Etete who is also the Chief Medical Director of Universality of Uyo, Alkwa Ibom State, lamented that Nigeria has lost many gifted and illustrious people to asthma.

Etete said asthma is one of the most common chronic lung diseases affecting approximately 400 million people worldwide, adding that despite, the availability of different asthma drugs, the underlying reason for many of the deaths is inadequate education.

He further called for a stronger patient education to ensure that Nigerians know that although, the disease may not be cured, it can be controlled.

“Globally, people with asthma will grow by more than 100 million by 2025, adding that the condition was typically characterised by recurring respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightening.

Etete encouraged patients and relatives of individuals with recurrent cough, noisy breathing, and breathlessness to report to the nearest health facility for necessary tests to rule out asthma.

He declared the association’s readiness to collaborate with Governments in conducting epidemiological studies to determine the exact burden of the disease and implementation of evidence based approach to managing the disease.