BANGALORE: Last year, when Kannada actor Darshan was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Disease (RGICD) following the complaints of wheezing and coughing, the doctors diagnosed him with bronchial asthma. He was suffering from this disease since four years, but he did not seek any treatment as the symptoms were mild.“The social stigma attached to the disease blocks the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. In Darshan’s case, it was a undiagnosed and untreated asthma which was neglected for a long period, as it was not disclosed to the doctors. The actor was not taking regular medicine. He did not inform us about his asthmatic condition. Asthmatic people often do not want to reveal the disease due to embarrassment,” RGICD Director Dr Shashidhar Buggi said.The feeling of embarrassment and social stigma due to the disease are commonly experienced by many asthma sufferers especially adolescents. As a result, despite the severe symptoms, the diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. Sometimes, they end up getting wrong treatment.SymptomsCommon symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble breathing and chest tightness should not be ignored.Paediatric Pulmonologist of Lakeside Hospital Dr H Parmesh said, “Sometimes the family avoids sharing with the relative that the child is suffering from asthma. In some situations, asthmatic people feel self-conscious about using an inhaler too.”Experts maintain that among all the non communicable diseases, respiratory diseases top the list. They said, “Karnataka has 10 per cent of adults who suffer from asthma and 25 per cent of children under 18 years of age are affected with this disease. From 1979 to 2009, the incidence of such cases has gone up from 9 to 29 per cent.There is also a 3 per cent decrease now.”
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