Barbadians do not like being stuck by needles.
And it is this fear that results in them missing a number of pointers whether they are allergic to certain conditions that could trigger asthma attacks.
“Our population doesn’t like needles. Even though it is not a deep injection, it is still something sharp and scratches the skin. It may be a little uncomfortable, it may be a little painful but it’s going to benefit them. [Because] if you can clearly identify what you’re allergic to, especially if you have significant associated illnesses like asthma, then the cost in the long run isn’t really anything because you then know what to avoid,” said emergency medicine specialist at Bayview Hospital, Dr Hilary Moore, on the sidelines of the Allergies, Asthma, & Urticaria discussion at the 3Ws Pavilion at the University of the West Indies Wednesday night.
The seminar was organised by health and wellness company Hibiscus Health and sponsored by Bayview.
Both Moore and pulmonologist Dr Dawn Alleyne suggested that testing and treatments such as immunotherapy were important because there has been an increase in asthma cases in Barbados.
The doctors said that based on statistics from the Barbados Asthma Association, between 18 per cent and 20 per cent of children lived with the respiratory condition.
There were no numbers for adults.
“Allergies limit life but unless you are an allergy sufferer you don’t know, and without treating the allergy, you will always have allergy-related diseases,” Dr Moore added. (TG)
