Summer is over but allergic attacks still pose a threat to Filipinos.
Allergic rhinitis, which is prevalent in Filipinos, is an illness manifested by frequent sneezing, runny, clogged or itchy nose, itchy, watery, or reddish eyes, and itchy throat. It causes a lot of discomfort.
Many Filipinos have perennial allergic rhinitis caused by pollution, house dust mites, animal dander and molds. This occurs anytime during the year and may even occur with unpredictable degrees of severity.
Since allergic rhinitis is considered a chronic disease, Dr. Ruby Pawankar of the Nippon Medical School in Japan, emphasized the need for more training programs for doctors and public educators on allergy prevention and treatment.
According to allergy experts, one way of controlling rhinitis is to avoid the allergens that trigger rhinitis attacks. The latest approach is through early and accurate diagnosis of allergies.
Local health experts note that many cases of colds and coughs are being treated with various types of antibiotics with no apparent response because they are allergic in nature.
According to the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Children involving 38 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Filipino teens aged 13-14 have one of the highest incidence rates for allergic rhinitis.
The Philippines also has the highest prevalence rates of common allergies such as rhinitis and asthma, topping other neighboring Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea.
Allergic rhinitis is serious and debilitating. It is a major chronic respiratory disease due to its prevalence, impact on quality of life, impact on work, school performance and productivity, economic burden, and its links with asthma. |
