(NIGERIA) 5 to 10 percent of kids have asthma; 3 to 5 percent more undiagnosed

May 24, 2025, Nigerian Tribune: Asthma attacks shouldn’t keep your kids off school

Children with asthma may experience daily symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which can interfere with their ability to focus in class and participate in physical activities like recess or sports.

Uncontrolled asthma can lead to asthma attacks, making it difficult for students to concentrate or participate in physical activities. In some cases, asthma attacks can require immediate medical attention and may necessitate a visit to the emergency room or even hospitalization, further disrupting school attendance.

School absenteeism due to asthma can negatively affect academic achievement, as students miss out on school teachings and may fall behind in their studies. Friend relations, attendance at physical and social activities, and quality of life (QOL) of asthmatic children may be negatively affected. . . .

Childhood asthma is estimated to affect between five and 10 percent of school-age children in Nigeria, with another three to five percent probably unrecognised or undiagnosed. The Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA) estimated that 14 percent of school-age children have had at least one previous episode of wheezing in the past 12 months.

Dr Bankole Kuti, a paediatrician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in a review of challenges, risks and prospects in schooling and Nigerian children with asthma, indicated that children with asthma face lots of challenges in school which can affect their academic performance and quality of life. . . .

Nevertheless, asthma shouldn’t be a reason for school absenteeism or the workplace or an excuse for redeployment from remote places by the National Youth Service Corps.

Head of the Pulmonary Unit at the University College Hospital, Dr Olumide Sogaolu, said there are effective inhaler medications for asthma.

He spoke at the 2025 World Asthma Day celebration by the Pulmonary Unit at University College Hospital in collaboration with the hospital’s Asthma Club, at the hospital.

According to him, “Asthma has no cure per se, but it can be well controlled throughout life. The key thing is education. Asthmatics must know their triggers and how to avoid them.” . . .

Also, Dr Emmanuel Adesokan, a consultant pulmonologist at UCH, Ibadan, said asthma medications in tablet form are ineffective and can cause a lot of side effects because the drug first goes into the stomach, gets dissolved, gets in the bloodstream, and goes everywhere in the body to achieve what it is intended for in the lungs.

Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the UCH, Ibadan, Mrs Miriam Kayode-Edward, assured that generic brands of their asthma medication are safe and they shouldn’t insist on buying branded versions that may increase their chances of patronising fake and substandard asthma medicines.

She, however, urged all asthmatics to enroll in the National Health Insurance to ensure the scheme can take care of their hospital visits and medications, hence improving their asthma control.

Prescription asthma medications can help manage symptoms, but children may be hesitant to take their medication at school or may have difficulty self-administering it. However, Mrs Kayode-Edward said compliance with their medication is very important. . . .

Addressing asthma-related school absenteeism in Nigeria requires a multi-pronged approach, including better asthma management, improved knowledge among school personnel, and addressing potential social and cultural barriers.