المملكة: 20% infection rate in the Kingdom.. An asthma awareness campaign targeting 600 students in Al-Khobar
Recent medical statistics revealed that the incidence of asthma in the Kingdom ranges between 15% and 20%, coinciding with the launch of the Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University Hospital in Al-Khobar And the correct and early handling of it.
The Executive Director of the University’s Academic Medical City, Dr. Saad Al-Omari, inaugurated the work of the comprehensive awareness campaign to raise the level of community awareness.
The launch ceremony witnessed the presence of the Dean of the College of Medicine, Professor Dr. Muhammad Al-Shahrani, the Executive Director of the University Hospital, Dr. Osama Al-Sawyan, the Executive Director of King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar, Dr. Abdullah Yousef, and an elite group of doctors and specialists.
Focus on students. Focus on students Schools
The Department of Internal Medicine organized this medical demonstration in broad cooperation with the departments of pediatrics, family and community medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, respiratory care, pharmacy, nutrition, and emergency care, in addition to the health education and communication units.
The head of the internal medicine department at the hospital, Dr. Abeer Al-Saeed, confirmed that the campaign focuses in particular on school students, as invitations were sent to thirty schools to receive about 600 male and female students. 200 visitors per day, in addition to receiving hospital visitors.
Dr. Al-Saeed explained that Official statistics indicate a higher incidence of asthma locally among children and adolescents compared to the elderly.
The head of the Internal Medicine Department added that the incidence of asthma in the Kingdom ranges between 15% to 20%, with a higher percentage among children and adolescents compared to adults, pointing out that global estimates indicate that between 260 and 300 million people are infected with asthma, which reflects the utmost importance of these campaigns to reduce its serious complications.
Educational corners on prevention methods
The activities include integrated educational corners that include prevention methods, avoiding irritants, diagnostic methods and devices used, how to naturally coexist with the disease, and the close relationship between healthy nutrition and controlling respiratory symptoms.
Dr. Al-Saeed stressed that awareness is the basic foundation of asthma control, due to its role in reducing exposure to triggers, enhancing adherence to daily preventive treatment, and the correct use of emergency treatments when needed.
For his part, Dr. Ziad Hamdi, a consultant in pediatrics, respiratory diseases and sleep disorders, explained that the diagnosis of asthma in children under the age of five depends mainly on the medical history and clinical examination, given the difficulty of performing a lung function examination for this group.
Dr. Hamdi stressed the difference in symptoms between adults and children, as well as the difference in medical treatments licensed for each age group.
The pediatric consultant pointed out that there are misconceptions among parents, such as the belief that vapor devices are more effective than inhalers, and the use of preventive treatment only when symptoms appear.
Dr. Ziad Hamdi warned against the home environment that stimulates seizures, warning against exposure to passive smoking, incense, Coal, dust, weather fluctuations, direct cold air, and furry animals.
The effect of smoking on children
In a related context, the consultant in respiratory diseases, rheumatology, and sleep medicine, Dr. Fahd Al-Mulhim, confirmed that children are the most affected by irritants such as smoking, electronic cigarettes, and strong perfumes.
Dr. Al-Mulhim pointed out that the harm caused by passive smoking to children may exceed the harm to the smoker himself, which constituted a main focus of the awareness campaign activities.
The respiratory system consultant corrected the common concept about using inhalers directly through the mouth, stressing that using specialized “spacer” devices is more effective to ensure the delivery of the medicine to the lungs instead of it collecting in the mouth.
Al-Mulhim concluded his speech by warning against the mistake of stopping preventive medications. When symptoms do not appear, stressing the importance of quitting smoking, or avoiding it near the family in order to preserve their health, and stressing that regular use of the treatment significantly reduces the severity of seizures, even in cases where the patient is stable.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
