Seasonal and nocturnal asthma in the tropics and subtropics
Syabbalo, N.C.
South African Medical Journal 77(5): 268-269
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 2315807 Document Number: 359721
It is pointed out that whereas the prevalence of bronchial asthma is reported to be low in tropical and subtropical countries, in Zambia (a subtropical country) it is a common cause of medical admission specially in the larger cities. A table gives Zambian data showing 62.2% of all asthma attacks as occurring in the wettest, hot months of December-March, while in the drier, cooler months of April-July only 16.2% occur and also in the drier but hottest months of August-November a mere 8.1% occur. Meanwhile, 13.5% occur all year round; 84% of asthmatic spells are nocturnal. [Neither the numbers of patients not the localities in Zambia from which these data were obtained are stated]. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and/or D. farinae are a known cause of asthma in Zambia [see e.g., D.J. Buchanan & I.G. Jones (1974) Postgraduate Medical Journal, 50: 680-682] but this is not to say that storage mites and other tropical allergens [e.g. fungal spores] might not be involved.