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Tripling asthma cases in October and November
An estimated 10 percent of Mexico's population suffers from this disease, the Social Security annually serves an average of 15 thousand hospitalizations and 250 thousand emergency room for asthma in the country.
Sat, 31/10/2009 - 03:34
The cold forced sweaters and jackets out of the closet. Photo: Ivan S?nchezTorre?n .- The constant changes of temperature in October and November, and viral respiratory infections, including outbreaks of seasonal influenza and human, to carry up to three times increase in cases of asthma, especially in children .
It is estimated that ten percent of the Mexican population, ie more than 10 million people suffer from this disease. Mart?n Becerril Angeles, head of the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), indicated that in people before reaching five years of age and have demonstrated 80 percent of cases with symptoms such as cough , difficulty breathing, wheezing in the chest and coughing up phlegm.
In cases of crises or exacerbations of the disease, there is an increased intensity of symptoms, with difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness and sometimes purple lips, which were not met on time, put in life threatening.
He explained that every year, on average, Social Security at the national level serves 250 thousand emergency and up to 15 thousand hospitalizations for complications of this disease, which limits the quality of life of the patient and cost implication to the institution.
The experience in these two months (October and November) said, is that it triples the number of cases of crisis or exacerbations of asthma, especially children arriving in the emergency services, where 55 percent of the cases occur in children and adolescents.
Becerril Angeles explained that 75 percent of asthmatics are resident for the disease on and off, ie the symptoms occasionally preceded by a cold, and is easily controlled with bronchodilators.
The recommendation of international agencies in health is that people with severe or persistent disease, are recipients of the vaccine against seasonal influenza.
"In the case of children, which is a labile population, especially those with asthma, it is desirable to prevent respiratory infections; for it, should prevent as far as possible access to public places and protected from cold drafts; at home, not sleep with windows open and, of course, the first symptoms to go to the doctor, with greater urgency if there is fever, the likelihood of contracting influenza virus, "emphasized the specialist.
Taking into account
It is essential that children with these conditions beware of sudden temperature changes and are watched by their parents.
The asthma and can be detected in a child up before their first birthday. There are several medications to control it.
The main symptoms that can warn of this disease, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing in the chest and coughing up phlegm.
Ethel Arredondo