A new study has revealed the hidden burden of asthma among schoolchildren in Ghana and other African nations, shedding light on the need for improved access to asthma diagnosis and treatment, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas.

The research, conducted by Queen Mary University of London, highlights how urbanisation and population growth have contributed to the rise of asthma in Ghanaian youth, with many children suffering from undiagnosed and untreated symptoms.

Asthma is the second leading cause of chronic respiratory deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, and Ghana is no exception.

The study, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, is the first to delve into the true prevalence of asthma among young people in Ghana’s urban areas.

Researchers recruited 20,000 students aged 12 to 14 from schools in cities across sub-Saharan Africa, including Accra and Kumasi in Ghana.

They found that 12% of students reported asthma symptoms, but alarmingly, only 20% of those had been formally diagnosed.

Asthma Symptoms Going Untreated

The study’s findings are especially troubling for Ghana, where rapid urbanisation has led to worsening air quality and higher exposure to pollutants.

Many students who reported symptoms were not receiving treatment, with nearly half of the undiagnosed participants showing strong indications of clinical asthma during lung function tests.

This gap in diagnosis means many Ghanaian children are left untreated, potentially worsening their condition.

Severe asthma symptoms were reported by two-thirds of the adolescents surveyed, and of those, 80% had never been diagnosed.

Even among those with a diagnosis, more than 30% of students with severe symptoms were not using asthma medications.

Challenges in Accessing Care in Ghana

Another alarming finding from the study was the lack of access to emergency medical care.

In Ghana, as in the rest of the study’s focus areas, nearly 45% of students with asthma symptoms had required emergency treatment within the past year, but many had not received the care they needed.

This highlights the critical need for better healthcare infrastructure, particularly in schools, where early diagnosis and intervention can help manage asthma.

Professor Jonathan Grigg, one of the study’s authors, emphasised the importance of addressing this issue: “Inhaled medications can control asthma in most children, but in Ghana and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, many children are undiagnosed and untreated.

“This unmet need has gone unrecognized for far too long.”

A Call for Action in Ghana

Health professionals and policymakers in Ghana are being urged to take action.

Dr Rebecca Nantanda, a co-author of the study, stressed the need for urgent attention to the issue: “Undiagnosed and poorly controlled asthma severely affects the well-being of children and their families.

“The high burden of severe undiagnosed asthma requires immediate intervention, including better access to medicines and diagnostics.”

The study calls for a multifaceted approach to address the problem, including educational programmes to raise awareness of asthma in schools, screening initiatives to identify undiagnosed cases, and improved access to affordable medications.

In Ghana, where asthma often goes unnoticed or untreated, these interventions could dramatically improve the quality of life for many children.

Dr. Gioia Mosler, another researcher involved in the study, noted the scale of the issue: “If these findings are representative, there could be millions of adolescents with undiagnosed asthma across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana.

“Improved diagnosis and treatment strategies in schools are crucial to addressing the problem.”

This study serves as a wake-up call for Ghana’s healthcare system to prioritize asthma care and diagnosis, ensuring that the country’s young population is not left to suffer in silence.

As urbanisation continues, the need for improved healthcare infrastructure becomes even more urgent.

The findings provide a roadmap for stakeholders in Ghana to tackle the asthma burden head-on, making asthma care accessible and effective for all.

UK scientists say they have found a new cause behind much of the damage asthma causes.

Cells lining the airways are squeezed to destruction during an attack, their research shows.

And drugs to prevent this, rather than manage its aftermath, might break the cycle of harm, the Kings College London researchers told the Science journal.

The airways of people with asthma are sensitive to triggers such as pollen, pets and exercise.

They become inflamed or swollen, causing symptoms including coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.

Existing drugs or inhalers can reduce this inflammation and help keep the airways open.

But repeated attacks can cause permanent scarring and narrowing of the airways.

During an attack, the smooth muscle surrounding the airways starts to squeeze and tighten, known as bronchoconstriction.

The Kings College London team studied this process in detail, using mice and human lung-tissue samples.

Lead researcher Prof Jody Rosenblatt said bronchoconstriction damaged the airway lining, resulting in long-term inflammation, wound healing, and infections that cause more attacks.

Until now, this lining damage had been overlooked, she told BBC News.

“This epithelial lining is the body’s first line of defence against things like infections and yet it is getting damaged during asthma attacks,” Prof Rosenblatt said.

“There’s this constant wounding going on – it’s a vicious cycle.

“If we can block the damage, we are hoping that might stop attacks from happening at all.”

‘Desperately needed’

One possible preventive treatment the researchers are exploring is an element called gadolinium, which appears to help – at least in mice.

But much more work is needed to see if it might be safe and effective enough to try in people – and that will take years.

Asthma and Lung UK research and innovation director Dr Samantha Walker said: “This discovery opens important new doors to explore possible new treatment options desperately needed for people with asthma.”

The charity says it’s essential that people with asthma continue to use their prescribed medications correctly – many should be able to get on with their lives without symptoms getting in the way, and for those who are still having symptoms it is important that they talk to their healthcare professional.

“We know that there are many people for whom existing asthma treatments don’t work as well, so it’s vital we continue to fund research to find new treatments that better tackle the causes of asthma.”

In the UK, more than five million people have asthma, about one in every 12 adults and one in every 11 children.

Most people with asthma have two inhalers:

• a preventer to use regularly, to reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms
• a reliever, to quickly open the airways

Those having an attack should not delay seeking help and call 999 if:

• their reliever is not helping
• the attack lasts four hours
• they are worried at any time

In the bustling streets of Accra, the daily spectacle of cars ensnared in traffic jams is a sight all too common. Yet, amid this urban hustle, a disquieting reality looms – a shroud of dense, noxious fumes billows from the exhaust pipes of countless vehicles.

“These harmful emissions infiltrate the lungs of millions, regardless of age, with lethal consequences that unfurl over time,” cautions the World Health Organization. The emissions comprise a sinister concoction of exhaust gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and insidious particulates.

For numerous residents, especially those with heightened sensitivities, this smog morphs from a mere irritant into a genuine peril, silently sowing the seeds of harm, with thousands paying the toll for every breath they draw.

Reuben Alexander Otu understands this painful truth all too well.

Reuben, much like countless Ghanaians, relies on public transport for his daily journeys. From Gbawe to Korle-Bu, Reuben embarks on two separate vehicles.

“Especially the trotros – public transport. The smoke from their exhaust is very bad,” laments Reuben.

The journey is anything but comfortable, and even his trusty nose mask is no match for the poisonous emissions spewing from carbon-fueled engines.

“That’s why I wear my nose mask constantly, in a bid to shield myself from the smoke and pungent odors. Yet, even then, it’s barely sufficient. I once had to implore a friend to roll up his window to stave off an assault from a passing vehicle. It was horrendous,” recounts Reuben.

Asthma casts a long shadow, a global concern with the World Health Organization recording 262 million cases and 455,000 deaths in 2019. In Ghana, asthma’s impact on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is stark. Since 2020, the country has witnessed 2,772,157 NCD cases, with asthma ranking third, trailing only hypertension and diabetes mellitus, responsible for 239,036 cases.

The numbers grow increasingly alarming with 84,700 new asthma cases in 2021, followed by 79,355 in 2022. More distressing still, from January to June 2023 alone, 36,780 fresh asthma cases have surfaced.

For those grappling with asthma, daily medication is a solemn ritual, and these remedies do not come cheap.

“I must resort to my inhaler daily. Back when the university didn’t cover the costs, it was a heavy burden on my finances. But there was no alternative; I had to purchase it, and the strain on my wallet was palpable,” confides Reuben.

For Reuben, there is a deep-seated frustration that resonates, echoing the sentiments of many – nobody seems to care, not even the policymakers. This time, he demands action to combat the deteriorating air quality.

“We voice these concerns because we implore the government to intervene. The air quality worsens with each passing day,” Reuben passionately states.

The issue of air pollution is further compounded by the scarcity of monitoring infrastructure in many regions. Even with the limited monitoring stations strewn across the nation, the data paints a bleak portrait of declining air quality. For those acutely sensitive to these fluctuations, the air has become an unwelcome adversary rather than a source of life.

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“This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund.”

Ghanaians called for Hip-hop artiste, Joey B’s head after he failed to show up at an event where he was to perform.

This is inspite of being paid for the show and a flyer released to that effect.

That was the second consecutive time Joey had a ‘no-show’, leaving fans to come to the conclusion that it was deliberate on his part to disrespect his fans.

What they did not know was that the artiste was battling for his life, having constant asthmatic attacks because his condition has become chronic for sometime now.

Joey B made the revelation in a series of tweets in which he apologised to his fans.

According to him, he appreciates every effort his fans make to see him on stage, and as much as he wanted to show up, he suffered a serious attack at the last minute.

i have still performed in this condition and exuded rage/energy on stage. i will not deliberately take monies and not deliver as expected. i did not no show an event because i think i’m drake. free events sef, i still show love how much more paid ones.

— Joey B (@1RealJoeyB) January 7, 2023

The development, he said, was communicated to the event organisers who should have done the appropriate thing by announcing his absence prior to the show.

According to him, he intended to make his condition private, but with the recent attacks on his brand and reputation, he has been forced to make the painful disclosure.

He revealed that since last year, he has been suffering constant asthmatic attacks due to the weather and excessive dust in Ghana.

However, Joey B said publicising his condition is not to seek sympathy or make an excuse for not dropping music in a while.

i’ve kept these attacks private as i dont want it as an excuse for not dropping music or seeking sympathy. but where it catch, image tarnishing come inside and i have to let y’all know whats been up.

— Joey B (@1RealJoeyB) January 7, 2023

The artiste wishes that his fans understand him and remember him in prayers as he takes a break to seek treatment.

If you are asthmatic, here are some tips to deal with the Harmattan.

1. Carry your inhalers everywhere you go. Having an inhaler doesn’t make you weak or show you’re going to die.

2. Know your triggers. Stay away from them.

3. Carry a sweater, pullover, coat with you, where ever you go. Doesn’t matter if you wear a cute dress or shirt.

4. When you get an “attack” use your inhaler. Don’t try to brave the storm.

5. Get to the hospital as quickly as you can.

6. When you go to the hospital please do not join the queue. Go to the emergency room. You are a priority.

7. Carry your health insurance card so if you have to be in the hospital it will be easy and cheap.

8. When you enter a Pharmacy to buy any drug, tell the Pharmacist or support staff you are asthmatic. This is very important.

9. If you are triggered by cold or dry air, as we are in the harmattan season, cover your nose.

10. Before you step out, ask yourself “is it necessary?” If it is not, stay home.

11. Stay hydrated. This is not the season for if I don’t drink cold water, I don’t feel like I’ve drunk water.

Stay safe. Stay strong.

#IamYourPharmacist