May 3 - World Asthma Day.
** About 2. 5 Lakh people die of Asthma every year
** There are 20 crore cases of food allergies..!
** Allergies can simply be defined as abnormal reactions to normally harmless substances...!
Rapid urbanisation & drastically changing lifestyles have exposed people to severe allergy-related disorders in developing countries such as India. But, lack of research & speciality in the discipline means they remain ill - prepared to deal with the problem.
In December, 2012, India would for the first time play host to over 90 top specialists from 30 countries at an international conference in Hyderabad that seen them deliver lectures, hold public forums and awareness camps and discussions on how to bring about more focus on the issue.
World Allergy Organisation..!
Dr. Ruby Pawankar, President, World Allergy Organisation (WAO), the first woman and the first Indian to hold this position, says allergies are part of chronic non-communicable diseases and is a huge issue, even in developing countries.
In our country India to lay the ground for the international conference to held from December 6 to 9, 2012 the Tokyo-based Pawankar says it is high time allergy as a disorder develops into a super speciality discipline.
“As many as 2. 5 Lakh people die of asthma every year.And asthma is only one form of allergy of the respiratory tract.
Skin allergies are rampant, and there are 20 crore cases of food allergies. Besides developing it into a separate medial discipline, a number of policy initiatives are also required,” she told PTI in an interview.
Allergies can simply be defined as abnormal reactions to normally harmless substances. They can range from minor irritants like sneezing and itching, to major problems such as asthma & even fatal reactions in some cases.
Even as the incidence of such problems increases in countries like India, there is little research or data evidence collection to gauge its real burden and magnitude.
The WAO, which started 6 decades back, was a less pro-active organisation in the first few decades of its existence.
However, over the past 15 to 20 years, it has consciously become more active in the fields of advocacy, training, research and awareness creation.
Urbanisation and Lifestyle Changes..!
Dr. Ruby Pawankar says urbanisation & lifestyle changes contribute significantly to people’s propensity towards allergies and developing countries, including India, are undergoing transformation and witnessing a rise in cases.
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