Asthma cases surge in Bihar; doctors stress awareness, early treatment

Patna: With asthma affecting over 26 crore people globally and causing nearly 4.5 lakh deaths each year, lack of access to anti-inflammatory inhalers continues to remain a critical gap in effective treatment. Marking World Asthma Day on Tuesday, health experts in Patna have raised concerns over the growing burden of the disease and stressed the urgent need for wider availability of these life-saving inhalers, especially in both rural and urban areas.Doctors highlighted that India alone accounts for more than 3.5 crore asthma patients—about 13% of the global burden—and contributes to 42% of asthma-related deaths worldwide. Increasing urbanisation, pollution, and exposure to biomass smoke are driving a surge in cases, particularly among children and the elderly, while poor diagnosis and treatment gaps continue to hinder proper disease management.At Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH), Dr Satish Kumar said that 10–15% of OPD patients suffer from asthma or allergic diseases, with children being particularly vulnerable. He emphasised that anti-inflammatory inhalers are safer and more effective than oral medicines and advised people to avoid triggers such as dust, cold, and fumes.Awareness programmes are being organised at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and NMCH to educate the public on asthma management. Experts, including former PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, pointed to rising air pollution and migration as key factors worsening the situation, recommending preventive measures like wearing masks.Adding an alternative perspective, Dr Dieshwar Prasad explained that lifestyle factors, stress, and environmental triggers aggravate asthma, and suggested that along with medical treatment, breathing exercises and certain traditional therapies may help in managing the condition.