Asthma in the English-speaking Caribbean

M. A. Monteil

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prevalence of asthma in the Caribbean is high and seems to be increasing. Asthma research in this region has been biased towards the paediatric population and there is little published on adult disease. There is a high prevalence of other allergic diseases in the patients studied, with skin reactivity to at least one allergen in 50 - 81% of subjects. Reactivity to house dust mite, especially Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, occurred most commonly and sensitivity to this mite correlated with high levels of mite proteins in mattress and bedroom dust. Asthmatic admissions to hospitals are highest in the last quarter of the year but fall to their lowest levels in April. Admission rates are influenced by climatic variables such as relative humidity and wind speed. In some territories current management of asthma remains reliant on the use of oral bronchodilators with underutilisation of inhaled beta-agonists and corticosteroid preparations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)125-128
Number of pages4
JournalWest Indian Medical Journal
Volume47
Issue number4
StatePublished - Dec 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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