Around 70 lakh people are suffering from bronchial asthma in the country and the number of patients are gradually increasing due to various reasons, specialists and medical practitioners in a scientific seminar here said, reports BSS from Rajshahi. They defined that existence of topic diseases like allergic rhinitis, eczema and allergic conjunctivitis were found to be significant risk factors responsible for development of bronchial asthma in both rural and urban areas. History of early childhood lung infections, like pneumonia, bronchiolitis and intake of antibiotics and paracetamol for more than 12 months were also detected to be the risk factors. So, asthma prevention campaigns in Bangladesh may be focused on sensitising people regarding these risk factors, they viewed.
The seminar titled “Role of Doxophyline in Management of Bronchial Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” was held at Hotel Warishan in the city yesterday evening. Department of Medicine of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) organized the seminar where more than 100 senior and junior physicians and other medicine specialists attended. Chief Medical Officer of Rajshahi University Dr Tabibur Rahman Sheikh addressed the opening session as chief guest while Principal of RMC Prof Dr Abu Raihan Khandakar and Director of RMCH Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin spoke as special guests with Prof Dr Azizul Haque, Head of Medicine Department, in the chair. Local unit BMA President Prof Dr Shahidur Rahman Tarafdar and General Secretary Dr Khalilur Rahman, Vice principal of RMC Dr Nawshad Ali and General Secretary of RMC Teachers Association Dr Maqhbubur Rahman Khan also spoke. During his keynote presentation on diagnosis, treatment, symptoms and causes, Dr Probir Mohan Bosak, Assistant Professor of Department of Medicine, said asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. He says asthma is caused by a combination of complex and incompletely understood environmental and genetic interactions.