Inhalation therapy is the best in the battle against asthma in children as the medicine reaches the lungs immediately and it is safe, paediatric pulmonologist at Child Trust Hospital Dr. S. Balasubramanian has said.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai on Wednesday ahead of the World Asthma Day, Dr. Balasubramanian dispelled the myth that inhalation is too strong and should be used only as the last resort. "Inhalation medicines do contain steroids, but not the anabolic kind used by athletes. They are rather life-saving corticosteroids that don't in anyway aid you to build muscles or extra strength that some athletes are accused of doing."
He said there was an increase of asthma instances among children due to lifestyle changes and other factors. "In my practice, I have been treating a lot of children under the age of five," he said. He added that parents were being counselled not to ignore symptoms of asthma.
"Prolonged cough and wheeze, breathlessness and chest tightness indicate asthma. In children, asthma need not be a chronic condition, but treatment is required for at least a year," he said.
Speaking of the side effects of inhalation therapy, Dr.Vinod Kumar, chest physician and bronchoscopist at Apollo First Med Hospitals, said it was possible for a child to develop hoarseness in voice or might be shorter, but there were no life-threatening complications.
The first Tuesday of May is observed as the World Asthma Day. This year it falls on May 3.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai on Wednesday ahead of the World Asthma Day, Dr. Balasubramanian dispelled the myth that inhalation is too strong and should be used only as the last resort. "Inhalation medicines do contain steroids, but not the anabolic kind used by athletes. They are rather life-saving corticosteroids that don't in anyway aid you to build muscles or extra strength that some athletes are accused of doing."
He said there was an increase of asthma instances among children due to lifestyle changes and other factors. "In my practice, I have been treating a lot of children under the age of five," he said. He added that parents were being counselled not to ignore symptoms of asthma.
"Prolonged cough and wheeze, breathlessness and chest tightness indicate asthma. In children, asthma need not be a chronic condition, but treatment is required for at least a year," he said.
Speaking of the side effects of inhalation therapy, Dr.Vinod Kumar, chest physician and bronchoscopist at Apollo First Med Hospitals, said it was possible for a child to develop hoarseness in voice or might be shorter, but there were no life-threatening complications.
The first Tuesday of May is observed as the World Asthma Day. This year it falls on May 3.