Question : Asthmatics

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether as per World Health Organisation (WHO) there are around 300 million asthmatics worldwide including 15-20 million in India, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether a study found that 15 percent of children have asthma in New Delhi, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether people working in a closed office environment where there are many computers, are at risk of sustained radiation exposure, causing several ailments such as asthma, cancer, heart diseases, nerves disorders, etc., if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps being taken by the Government to correct the situation?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) & (b): As per World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, 235 million people suffer from asthma worldwide in 2013 with an estimated 15-20 million asthmatics in India. As per WHO report, estimates indicate prevalence of asthma between 10% to 15%
in 5 to 11 year old children in India.

As per a survey conducted by Vallabbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi in 2006, which covered 5900 adults belonging to urban, rural and slum population in Delhi, 11.03% children were found to be suffering from Asthma.

Besides a familial predisposition for asthma and respiratory ailments, the other reasons include tobacco smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution.

(c) & (d): As informed by the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, radiation emanating from computers causing several ailments is not substantiated. NITRD has further informed that there are no evidence based studies in this regard.