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Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background: Bronchial asthma is the most prevalent chronic lung diseases. Morbidity and mortality associated with asthma has also continued to increase despite advances in treatment and management. Asthma vary from region to region due to the variability of extrinsic allergens that play a major role in sensitizing susceptible individuals. As an allergenic disease, environmental factors are of more importance than genetic factors in the etiology of bronchial asthma. Patient awareness and treatment regimen have a strong influence on outcome and stabilization of asthma. Objective: This survey was to evaluate the knowledge about triggering factors and treatment regimen among asthma patients. Methods: After obtaining the ethical approval from institutional ethics committee, patients consented to participate (n=100) were asked to answer a standardized questionnaire about asthma treatment, occupation, personal habits, and precipitating factors. Data were compiled and statistical analysis were done using frequency distribution. Results: Most of the participants were nonsmoker female field workers who had precipitation of attack either during winter season or dust. Even though most of the participants were hospitalized 2 – 3 times /year with severe asthma, inhalers were prescribed to only 38% of participants and 66% were taking 5 – 10 tablets /day. 74% had seasonal aggravation of asthma and only 15% had asthma throughout the year. 96% participants felt that cold climate or dust will participate asthma. Conclusion: Asthma is more prevalent among the agriculture workers may be because of exposure to dust or allergens and majority of them had aggravation during winter or rainy season.

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