A non-profit organisation, Cido Asthma Foundation, has called for greater use of inhalers in treating asthma, warning that tablets and injections could have harmful side effects.
The foundation’s Medical Director, Dr. Wisdom Okeze, made the call during an event marking World Asthma Day in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. The event was themed: “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for All.”
Dr. Okeze stressed the importance of proper asthma management, noting that poorly controlled asthma can lead to sudden death.
“Many asthma patients hesitate to use inhalers and instead prefer tablets or injections,” he said. “But inhalers are the most effective treatment because the medication goes directly to the windpipe, where the problem originates.”
His words: “Many asthma patients hesitate to use inhalers, rather they want to use the asthma medications in tablet or injection forms. Inhalers are the best available medicines for it because the drugs go directly to the windpipe where the problem actually is.
“Inhalation corticosteroid is the key cornerstone for the management of asthma; many people still take tablets that is why their asthma is properly controlled. Some don’t know the appropriate drug to use. Some also take herbal concoctions believing that it is going to cure them.
“Asthma is not curable but it is treatable. With good asthma control, there wouldn’t be nighttime or early morning asthma symptoms and limitation in doing any activity including sports. There wouldn’t be any exacerbation of asthma symptoms or visit to emergency units of hospital or admission for asthma”.
A resource person, Prof. Ijeoma Nduka, said the use of asthma drugs in tablet form should be discouraged because patients over time may suffer from hypertension, diabetes and even kidney or heart failure.
She added, “It is the same medicine just that the drugs are powdered and put inside an inhaler. If oral medication is taken, the drug gets absorbed into the body and reaches other organs, which can have more side effects. In the case of inhalation therapy, there is no major side effect, rather it works effectively.”
According to Prof. Nduka dust, fumes, animal danders, strong perfumes or odours, cockroach droppings and even freshly cut grass, fumes from heating oil can trigger asthmatic attacks and it is important for individuals to learn their triggers and avoid such things.
She said asthmatics should always carry their rescue inhalers at all times because they could not predict when they might have an attack and would require it for their treatment.
She criticised the continued inclusion of oral salbutamol and corticosteroids in the country’s Essential Medicines List (EML), despite international recommendations against their use.
According to her, oral medications in the treatment of asthma was associated with harmful side effects such as tremors, irregular heart rhythms and increased risk of asthma attacks and death.
However, the drug remained more accessible than safer inhaled alternatives due to cost and outdated prescription practices despite World Health Organisation (WHO) warnings.
“Once an asthmatic attack starts within 5 minutes, if an individual is not rescued by using inhaler, the person may die”.
Dr Segun Dairo, a Public Health Physician, highlighted air pollution, hot weather and pollen as significant triggers of asthma attacks, shedding light on the intricate relationship between environmental factors and respiratory health.
He said asthma, characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, was affecting millions of people globally with symptoms ranging from wheezing and shortness of breath to coughing and chest tightness, adding that while genetics played a role in asthma development, environmental factors could worsen symptoms and trigger attacks.
According to him, studies had shown that air pollution, including particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide, could irritate the airways and worsen asthma symptoms, particularly in urban areas with high pollution levels.
“By promoting awareness and education, we can help individuals better understand their condition, recognize triggers, and take proactive steps to prevent exacerbations.”
