Asthma cases have risen 50 percent in the last 10 years world-wide, while in Pakistan up to 10 percent of the population is estimated to be suffering from this condition.
This was stated by Dr Ali bin Sarwar Zuberi, Assistant Professor Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). He was speaking at a seminar on 'Latest advancements in management of Asthma' held under the aegis of AKUH's 'signs, symptoms and care' programme at the university.
He also revealed that according to a recent international survey, approximately 300 million people world-wide had asthma, while cases were on increase in Pakistan.
Dr Zuberi said asthma often began in childhood, it could be contracted at any age and the condition was more common and more severe in large cities like Karachi.
He explained that the disease was caused by a combination of inherited and environmental factors, which included indoor allergens such as those, produced by house dust mites, cats, dogs and cockroaches; air pollution, dietary habits and smoking both active and passive.-PR