Vol. 403 No. 10
125 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health if it has been brought to his attention that one in eight children now suffer from asthma and that a major proportion of these children suffer unnecessary disability because of under treatment; and the steps he proposes to take to deal with this very serious situation.
Asthma is a clinical syndrome characterised by airway obstruction which varies in severity.
The incidence depends on a large number of unknown variables. Figures on the prevalence of asthma vary considerably depending on the population studied and the diagnostic criteria used. In the majority of patients the symptoms can be controlled with appropriate drug treatment.
