A free asthma awareness camp was conducted in commemoration of World Asthma Day on Tuesday by the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. A total of 202 patients with respiratory symptoms attended the camp. Spirometry was done in 131 patients and 97 patients were newly diagnosed to have asthma.
Patients were educated on their disease and counselling was provided to them on future care. According to Dr. Jebin, Medical Consultant-Pulmonary Department, CMC, the burden of asthma was huge and the current statistics does not reflect it due to the misconceptions about asthma among patients as well as some doctors. “Asthma, if not diagnosed early and treated appropriately, can lead to complications. Asthma is a disease that has to be taken seriously and as this year’s theme points out, it is never too early and never too late to start treatment. Effective measures have to be taken to increase awareness and educate them about the need for regular treatment and follow up, he said.