Doctor says asthma sufferers are in need of better advice

Almost 60 per cent of asthma sufferers cannot control their condition despite increasing amounts of money being directed at the problem.

A survey of 290 asthma sufferers under the age of 18, which was funded by the South Eastern Health Board GP unit, found that up to 40 per cent had symptoms more than once a week, almost 30 per cent avoided activities because of their asthma and 24 per cent had missed more than four weeks of school in the past year.

The patients were selected randomly from 40 of the 140 general practitioners contracted with the South Eastern Health Board. The survey was conducted by Dr Reggie Spelman, chairman of the Irish General Practitioners' Asthma Group, and Dr Mary Jordan, area medical officer in Waterford, and appeared in Forum, the magazine of the Irish College of GPs.

Dr Spelman said yesterday that there were four levels of asthma, and the first three could be controlled, but it came down to a problem of asthma management. "Only 10 per cent of asthma sufferers are at level four, so all others should be able to control their asthma."

He said the other 90 per cent should not be missing school or activities or showing the symptoms if there was proper asthma management.

Most asthma sufferers have two inhalers, one for ongoing treatment and one for emergencies. Some 13 per cent were unable to recognise one inhaler and 16 per cent could not recognise the other. "In other words almost 30 per cent did not know which inhaler was which."

Dr Spelman added: "What is happening should not be happening. There should be zero incidents of pupils missing school or not taking part in activities. There should be full control of the problem. Obviously the message is not getting across."

Part of the problem was that there was such a short time in the doctor's surgery that often the doctors did not know or ask the correct follow-up questions.

"If you have blood pressure, the doctor prescribes a tablet and there is a simple test to see if that is the right treatment. Not so with asthma. Some inhalers don't suit some people. There has to be an ongoing education process."