Global group: 18% of Dominican children suffer from asthma

Santo Domingo.- The Global Initiative for Asthma (Gina) on Wednesday warned that 18 percent of the children in Dominican Republic suffer from the disease.

The organization revealed that some 300 million people suffer from the disease worldwide.

It said asthma is among the major causes of school absenteeism by children, and from the workplace among adults.

Gina pediatric pulmonologist chapter president Dr. Luis Adam Lora said the Dominican Government must do more to diagnose, educate and treat patients and help them control their disease.

Speaking in a ceremony to mark World Asthma Day on the Malecon), where dozens of blue balloons were released, the pediatrician called to create awareness regarding the disease.

Lora said the organizations which combat asthma propose a good doctor-patient rapport to identify and reduce exposure to risk factors, evaluate, treat and manage asthma and subsequent crises or exacerbations of the disease.