Many Kiwis far too casual about asthma, say experts

Parents Char and Joshua Freitag - pictured with their children Mila, 2, and Xavier, 5 - know what it is like to live with a family member who is likely to suffer an asthma attack. Photo / Dean Purcell

As winter approaches, one young family know too well what a terrifying illness asthma can be.

New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates, and for many Kiwis winter makes things a lot worse.

Today is World Asthma Day, organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma in collaboration with healthcare groups to raise awareness about asthma care and control globally.

Char Freitag said that like many mothers, she did not fully understand how asthma could develop in children, and how serious it could be.

Although her husband, Joshua, had asthma when he was younger, as did some of his relatives, Mrs Freitag had never experienced it herself.

So when son Xavier had a sudden, severe asthma attack just before his second birthday, she was shocked.

"When we got him to Starship finally - [we] caught an ambulance - they said he wouldn't have made it through the night."

She said that last winter, Xavier, now 5, was especially unwell. But since using his preventer inhaler daily, he was much better.

"He's a different kid. He's happy and can breathe, playing like normal with all the other kids."

The Auckland couple's daughter Mila, 2, was in hospital at the weekend. It is not known if she has asthma, but when she had trouble breathing, her parents did not hesitate to get help.

"She was in Starship just on Saturday at 2 in the morning because she couldn't sleep and she couldn't breathe. So my husband rushed her in there. That was pretty scary, but she was all right."

Mrs Freitag said a lot of parents learned about asthma the hard way, so she welcomed the chance to educate others about the illness.

Asthma New Zealand executive director Linda Thompson said many Kiwis were too casual about managing their asthma.

"New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with nearly 8000 people hospitalised each year and an estimated 65 deaths every year as a result of the condition," Ms Thompson said.

Half a million Kiwis had asthma and one in seven children here took asthma medication.

Asthma was common despite New Zealand's low smoking rates and relative lack of heavy industry and air pollution.

But poorly insulated or cold homes, diet, pollen, colds and viruses could also trigger asthma.

Although these triggers are well established, Janet Delooze, Asthma NZ asthma nurse educator, said the cause of the condition remained unknown.

Ms Delooze said everybody had different triggers.

Colds, flu and respiratory infections, which were more prevalent in the winter, were major triggers.

She said winter was the busiest time for her organisation.

"Apart from viruses, it's colder and damper in winter, and cold air and mould are other triggers."

Poorly insulated homes and a lack of adequate heating also exacerbated the illness.

Ms Delooze said Auckland especially had many poorly insulated homes.

Asthma New Zealand said adults also needed to manage their symptoms, which could include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness, and seek expert advice if their daily life was frequently restricted by asthma. NZME.