Diagnosis Devices Not Even, 12 Million Indonesians Reportedly Suffer From Asma

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) stated that around 12 million more or 4.5 percent of the total population of Indonesia are people with asthma and tools to diagnose asthma are not yet available in all health facilities.

"In Indonesia alone, the number of sufferers based on data from the Ministry of Health in 2020 is more than 12 million. Worldwide, it is estimated that there are 262 million people with asthma. Usually it comes down from parents who have asthma," said PDPI member Arief Bachtiar, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 2.

Arief said that the prevalence of people with asthma varies, ranging from 1 to 18 percent of the total population in various countries, both developed and developing. In Indonesia alone, it has reached 4.5 percent.

He said that in general, asthma is a disease that can be suffered by all people of age and gender without exception. Usually owned by people who have a history of parental descent who have asthma.

With so many asthma sufferers in Indonesia, Arief asked the public to understand that the general symptoms of asthma vary from time to time. Usually the symptoms are in the form of shortness of breath or breathing, followed by coughs at missing nights arising periodically.

Symptoms can strengthen when triggered by allergen which causes the patient's chest to feel heavy as if pressed at certain times.

Then a number of originators of asthma in someone are allergies such as fungal powder and pet hair, exposure from irritants and air pollution, respiratory infection due to colds or flu, erratic weather conditions and gastroesofageal (gerd) reflux due to acidic stomach rise.

"To do an asthma diagnosis, we usually start with whether there are symptoms of shortness of breath, heavy chest or breathing. Then after confirming a history of disease, we will carry out examinations such as markers and broncodillators," he said.

Unfortunately in Indonesia, the tool for diagnosing asthma is not yet available in all health facilities. So Arief suggested that asthma patients routinely check their conditions regularly and take asthma drugs, either controllers or controllers, including ensuring that they take them wherever they go.

However, due to the large number of types of clothes to use, he asked the patient to adjust them to the conditions and recommendations of the doctor.

"This asthma drug as a controller is used to routinely either there is an attack or not for those whose status is out of control, because these asthma drugs are aimed at reducing inflammation and improving the function of the lungs in asthma patients," he said.

Then because there has been no research stating that asthma can be cured so far, as a commemoration of World Asma Day 2023, he appealed to all asthma sufferers to control their condition as much as possible to avoid cigarette smoke or vape smoke, immediately seek treatment if symptoms continue and exercise regularly such as asthma exercise, swimming, small running or a healthy walk.

"Then in commemorating World Asma Day 2023, we hope that in all lines of health services, at least we have a spirometer. This is where we can start diagnosing asthma," he said